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***  For  sale  by  Booksellers.     Sent,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  price  by  the  Publishers, 
HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  &  COMPANY,  BOSTON,  MASS. 


TWO  COMPTON  BOYS 


BY 


AUGUSTUS  JJOPPIN 

AUTHOR  OF  "RECOLLECTIONS  OF  AUTON   HOUSE,' 
"A  FASHIONABLE  SUFFERER" 


NINETY-THREE  ILLUSTRATIONS 
BY  THE  AUTHOR 


SECOND  EDITION 


BOSTON 

HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AND   COMPANY 
New  York  :   11  East  Seventeenth  Street 
Htoerstoe  Press, 
1885 


Ps 


Copyright,  1884, 
BY  HOUGUTOX,  M1FFL1N  &  CO. 

All  rights  reserved. 


The  Riverside  Press,  Cambridge: 
Electrotyped  and  Printed  by  II  0.  Iloughtou  &  Co. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 


PAGE 


I.  RICHARD  LION   REYDON.  —  PIZARRO  FITTS 9 

II.  MISS   KAMLIN'S   SCHOOL »        .        .  in 

III.  WARTS.     "FITS'   KEEPS" 32 

IV.  ROBBING   A   HAWK'S  NEST 43 

V.  FISHING 54 

VI.  BOY   FIGHT 68 

VII.  LUCY  BINGHAM'S   PARTY 78 

VIII.  HAPS  AND  MISHAPS 94 

IX.  A  DRIVE   AND  ITS   CONSEQUENCES lOtt 

X.  THE   TRIAL 119 

XI.  A   CRISIS 136 

XII.  CONCLUSION  155 


TWO  COMPTON  BOYS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

RICHARD  LION  REYDON.  —  PIZARRO  FITTS. 

NCE  there  was  a  boy  named  Richard  Lion 
Reydon.  He  lived  in  the  town  of  Compton, 
in  New  England,  fifty  years  ago.  His  father's 
name  was  Ephraim.  His  mother's  name  was 
Anna,  —  both  good  old  biblical  appel 
lations.  In  those  days,  when  a  child 
was  born,  the  Scriptures  were  at  once 
put  into  requisition  to  furnish  it  a  ti 
tle  ;  for  if  a  "  young  one  "  should  by 
chance  have  a  "  new-fangled,"  or  fancy 
cognomen,  he  was  somehow  considered  to  be  beyond  the  pale  of 
Christianity.  This  superstition  was  a  quaint  relic  of  Puritanism,  which 
exercised  great  power  among  the  inhabitants  of  Compton  fifty  years 
ago. 

It  always  seemed  to  me  that  such  names  as  Shear jashub,  Melchisedec, 
and  Jonadab  were  indissolubly  associated  with  individuals  who  wore 
long  flowing  robes  and  turbans,  and  were  entirely  inappropriate  to 
people  in  coats  and  breeches ;  but  they  thought  otherwise  fifty  years 


10 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


ago.     Immediately  on  receipt  of  their  new  boy,  Ephraim  and  Anna 
Reydon  rushed  to  the  Scriptures  to  search  for  a  fitting  appellation. 

They     searched     in     vain.     There 
?rv...  iiilsll      ^  seemed    to   be   nothing  there 

which  exactly  met  the  require 
ments  of  this  name 
less  cherub,  which 
lay  writhing  and 
screaming  in  its 
nurse's  arms. 

Their  only  other  alternative  was  the  pages  of  Romance  and  History. 
To  these  they  at  last  repaired  as  a  final  resort.  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion 
was  a  character,  both  historical  and  romantic,  which  exhibited  those 
magnanimous  and  heroic  peculiarities  which  they 
thought  they  perceived  in  their  own  infant.  Like  the 
,t  hero,  their  child  was  as  straight  as  a  lath 
and  as  fair  as  a  lily.  His  tremendous  screams 
and  various  contortions  indicated  that  he  was 
thoroughly  able-bodied,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  grasped  the  father  Ephraim's  fore 
finger  with  a  tenacity  sufficient  to  have  stran 
gled  a  small-sized  Saracen. 

After  that  the  mind  of  the  father  was 
made  up,  and  Ephraim  said  to  Anna, 
his  wife,  "  My  dear  !  his  name  is  Rich 
ard  Lion  Reydon."     So  by  that  title 
he  was  known  to  the  end  of  his  days. 
Richard's  father  was  a  rich  East  India  merchant.     He  owned  ships 
which  sailed  from  Compton  to  China,  and  sometimes  to  South  America, 


lllCUARD  LION  REYDON.— PIZARRO  F1TTS.  11 

bringing  back  teas,  oriental  commodities,  and  other  products  of  for 
eign  climes,  —  which  were  either  sold  on  commission,  or  appropriated 
to  his  own  individual  account. 

The  India  trade  was  a  very  lucrative  one  in  those  days,  and  Mr. 
Reydon  soon  became  a  wealthy  man.  This  end  was  more  easily  assured 
from  the  fact  that  he  had  inherited  from  his  father  —  Old  Ephraim  - 
a  splendid  business  which  he  managed  so  skillfully  that  it  rapidly  grew 
into  magnificent  proportions.  Mr.  Reydon  was  somewhat  puritanical 
in  his  habits  ;  characteristics  which  he  inherited  along  with  his  father's 
money ;  but  he  also  possessed  the  instincts  of  a  gentleman,  and  all  the 
ability  of  gratifying  his  quiet  gentlemanly  tastes. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  write,  Compton  had  a  population  of  fifteen 
thousand  inhabitants.  It  was  neither  city  nor  country.  It  possessed 
some  of  the  advantages  of  both,  but  all  the  delights  of  neither.  It 
had  banks  and  street-lamps,  and  cobble-stones  in  some  of  its  streets, 
yet  was  destitute  of  gas,  sewers,  and  water-works.  It  had  six  cross; 
"  bug-a-boo,"  ununiformed  constables,  to  frighten  the  boys.  It  de 
pended  on  wells  and  cisterns  to  put  out  its  fires.  It  burnt  whale  oil  in 
its  brass  lamps,  and  hickory  wood  in  its  fire-places.  Situated  near  the 
sea,  and  being  the  entrepot  of  a  large  foreign  trade,  its  wealthier 
citizens  enjoyed  many  of  those  luxuries  which  are  usually  found  in 
larger  places,  and  filled  their  homes  with  objects  of  eastern  splendor. 
Their  drawing-rooms  smelt  of  sandal-wood  and  Canton  shawls,  and 
their  store-closets  were  crammed  with  pots  of  preserved  ginger  and 
pressed  oranges. 

The  citizens  of  Compton  were  composed  of  two  classes.  One  an 
humble,  untraveled,  common-school-educated  and  independent  sort ; 
the  other,  a  rich,  cosmopolitan,  and  luxury-loving  sort.  Luckily  these 
two  classes  mingled  together  on  the  pleasantest  terms,  and  their  daily 


12 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


intercourse  progressed  with  the  least  amount  6f  friction.  There  were 
no  public  schools,  nor  high  schools,  nor  normal  schools,  nor  Schools  of 
Technology  in  the  town  of  Compton,  in  those  days.  All  the  girls 
and  boys  —  both  the  rich  and  the  less  rich  —  were  sent  for  their 
education  to  some  Miss  Philbank's  or  Marm  Jones's  or  Miss  Kamlin's 
—  who  brought  them  up  after  their  own  particular  system,  and  accord 
ing  to  their  own  plan  of  training,  unmolested  by 
officious  public-school  superintendents,  or  aesthetic 
committees  on  free  education.  The  result  was  that 
these  schools  presented  a  motley  group  of  scholars. 
Boys  from  four  years  old  up  to  fourteen,  and  girls 
of  the  same  ages  were  mixed  together  in  a  charm 
ing  medley.  The  class  in  spelling  would  very 
likely  be  composed  of  a  big  booby  with  incipient 
whiskers,  standing  by  the  side  of  a  precocious  little 
sprite  of  ten,  and  a  tall,  freckled  girl,  who  wore 
gingham  pantalets,  and  chewed  cinnamon-stick.  At 
recess,  the  boys'  yard  had  a  very  singular  appear 
ance,  with  its  big  fellows  who  smoked  cigars,  and 
its  little  chaps  in  "  panties  "  and  garters.  At  the  time  when  this  story 
begins,  Richard  Reydon  was  twelve  years  old.  His  parents  had  sent 
him,  for  the  past  five  years,  to  Miss  Kamlin's  school.  The  time  had 
not  yet  arrived  when  they  would  be  compelled  to  decide  whether  it 
were  better  to  put  him  into  college,  or  send  him  to  China  in  one  of  his 
father's  ships ;  so  they  allowed  him  to  continue  with  Miss  Kamlin  until 
the  solution  of  this  momentous  problem  should  be  forced  upon  them. 
Dick  Reydon  was  a  tall,  muscular,  light-hearted  fellow.  He  was  not 
over  studious,  and  was  naturally  given  —  like  every  boy  —  to  sports 
of  all  kinds.  A  healthy  and  vigorous  constitution  begat  healthy  and 


RICHARD  LION  REYDON.  —  PIZARRO  F1TTS.  13 

vigorous  spirits.  Generous,  active,  brave,  and  quick-tempered,  he  was 
as  good  a  specimen  of  the  genus  Boy  as  the  town  produced.  His 
parents  had  trained  him  in  the  most  judicious  manner.  They  neither 
stuffed  his  little  "  cocoa-nut "  with  false  ideas  of  social  position,  nor  al 
lowed  him  to  think  that  his  condition  in  life  was  any  better  than 
that  of  his  companions.  He  grew  up,  therefore,  a  frank  and  generous 
fellow.  He  shared  his  bread  and  butter  with  his  poorer  school-mates, 
and  was  thankful  to  get  a  spoonful  of  cracker  and  milk  from  Ed 
Bush's  bowl,  his  father's  gardener's  son.  Such  a  chap  as  this  was 
sure  to  be  a  favorite  with  his  companions,  and  the  consequence  was, 
that  Dick  Reydon  became,  every  year,  more  and  more  of  a  leader. 

In  a  small  place  like  Compton,  all  the  boys  of  the  town  were  nat 
urally  thrown  together.  It  required  nearly  their  whole  number  to 
make  up  a  respectable  show,  —  when  any  game  was  to  be  played,  —  so 
that  every  boy,  not  under  the  ban  of  being  a  "  loafer,"  was  gladly  ad 
mitted  into  the  fraternity. 

In  those  days,  oftentimes  the  most  popular  of  all  playfellows  was  a 
negro.  He  was  generally  more  active,  more  able-bodied,  and  more 
good-natured  than  any  of  his  companions.  His  feats  of  agility  in 
climbing  and  running,  and  his  fertile  imagination  in  suggesting  fun, 
were  greatly  appreciated ;  so  that  where  one  saw  a  group  of  school 
boys,  he  was  sure  to  spy  out  in  the  midst  of  it  some  grinning  coun 
tenance  with  a  dark  skin  and  a  crape-like  head. 

Dick  Reydon's  father  had  a  black  coachman  named  Joshua  Fitts. 
He  was  a  short,  stubbed,  able-bodied  man,  who  had  once  been  a 
whaler.  He  had  a  square,  lumpy  nose,  and  possessed  a  good  deal 
of  natural  intelligence.  He  wore  ear-rings,  and  had  a  curious  habit 
of  going  about  the  streets,  turning  up  the  corners  of  his  mouth,  and 
squinting  up  his  eyes,  as  if  the  sun  was  continually  shining  in  them. 


14 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


To  look  at  him,  no  one  could  tell  whether  he  was  thirty  or  sixty 
years  old.  In  some  lights,  —  for  instance  early  in  the  morning,  — 
he  appeared  very  youthful,  while  just  at  sunset  it  seemed  as  if  he 
might  well  be  a  hundred. 

Joshua  was  good-natured  and  served  his  master 
faithfully  many  years.  He  was  intrusted  by  him 
with  various  kinds  of  business.  He  carried  to  the 
bank  Mr.  Reydon's  notes  for  discount.  He  de 
posited  for  him  large  sums  of  money  —  as  a  private 
secretary  might  have  done.  He  settled  for  him  his 
household  expenses;  and  his  accounts,  when  pre 
sented,  always  showed  the  correct  balance.  He 
was  almost  as  much  an  integral  part  of  Mr. 
Reydon's  family  as  one  of  his  own  children.  In 
process  of  time,  Joshua  Fitts  led  to  the  hymen 
eal  altar  Amanda,  daughter  of  George  Wash 
ington  Jenkins,  a  respectable  colored  man  in  the 
neighborhood.  With  her  he  moved  into  a  cosey 
little  cottage,  only  five  minutes'  walk  from 
Mr.  Reydon's  homestead,  where  they  set 
tled  down  and  had  several  small  Fitts. 
Mrs.  Fitts  belonged  to  the  "  quality  "  branch  of  the  society  in  which 
she  moved.  She  was  the  fashionable  wedding-cake  maker  for  the 
whole  town.  She  made  this  necessary,  but  indigestible,  compound 
blacker  with  spices,  and  fuller  with  citron  and  currants,  than  any  cook 
in  the  large  cities  ;  so  that  when  it  was  cut  up  into  slices,  and  placed 
in  bits  of  note-paper,  tied  with  white  wedding  ribbon,  its  winey,  fruity, 
frosting-y  fragrance  overcame  even  the  orange  flowers  of  the  bridal 
bouquet.  The  first  fruit  of  this  Joshua-Amanda  union  was  a  son, 


RICHARD  LION  REYDON.  —  PIZARRO  FITTS.  15 

whose  history  we  are  narrating  in  connection  with  that  of  his  intimate 
friend,  Richard  Lion  Reydon.  Born  in  the  same  year  as  Richard,  this 
little  black  boy's  parents,  imitating  their  master  and  mistress,  searched 
in  vain  through  the  same  old  Bible  and  dictionary  to  find  a  name  for 
their  suffering  child.  Now,  at  first  sight,  one  might  think  that  Joshua 
and  Amanda  were  too  particular  on  this  point,  but  they  reasoned,  and 
with  some  truth,  that  the  squirming  little  pickaninny  in  their  laps 
was  to  grow  up  and  become  the  companion  of  Master  Richard  himself ; 
and  therefore  he  ought  to  be  designated  by  some  title  which  would 
correspond  with  that  young  gentleman's  appellation,  even  if  they  had 
to  go,  as  Joshua  expressed  it,  "  to  de  page  of  morance  itself."  For 
tune  favored  them  however,  in  that  they  succeeded  in  discovering  the 
object  of  their  search  before  they  had  quite  exhausted  history,  and  had 
fairly  turned  the  tempting  page  of  ."  morance."  One  of  Mr.  Rey don's 
ships  which  had  been  trading  on  the  West  Coast  of  South  America 
had  lately  come  into  port  from  Lima,  laden  with  merchandise,  which 
it  had  landed  at  Compton  on  a  mercantile  venture.  Joshua  heard 
"  Massa  "  Reydon  talk  of  Peru,  and  "  de  histry  of  dat  country."  He 
caught  the  name  of  "  Pizarro,"  which  was  frequently  mentioned  as  an 
individual  of  note  and  celebrity,  who  figured  in  all  "  de  battles  wid 
de  Incas,"  etc.  So  he  went  home  and  walked  straight  up  into  Aman 
da's  chamber.  There  rested  Amanda,  bolstered  up  with  pillows  on  a 
feather  bed.  She  wore  a  tall,  white,  high-peaked  mob-cap,  with  a 
deep  frill  hanging  over  her  eyes  and  nose.  She  neld  the  infantile 
Fitts  with  no  name  in  her  motherly  arms,  while  the  blue-checked  coun 
terpane  and  the  high-posted  bedstead  acted  as  a  sort  of  frame-work 
to  this-  domestic  picture.  "  'Mandy  !  "  said  Joshua,  "  I  've  got  de 
right  name  for  de  chile  at  las'.  Massa  Reydon's  been  talkin'  'bout  de 
conques'  o'  Peru,  de  country  whar  our  ship  jes'  cum  from,  an'  in  all  de 


16 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


battles  in  de  subjactin'  of  dat  nation,  de  greates'  gin'ral  of  all,  an' 
de  one  who  was  de  fus'  to  take  all  de  natives  an'  put  'em  to  def,  an' 
beat  'em  in  pieces,  an'  make  'em  surrender  to  de  Spanish  Armada,  was 
a  chap  dey  call  Pizarrer,  —  a  mighty  gin'ral,  'Mandy,  he  was  !  Now, 
dere  ain't  no  Pizarrers  roun'  here,  honey,  so  let  de  chile  hav  dis  yere 
name.  It  takes  my  eye  mighty,  'Mandy  !  It  does." 

"  I  doan'  min',"  said  Amanda,  soothing  the  young  Pizarro,  who  was 
trying  to  swallow  his  fist.  "  I  doan'  min'  so  long  as  he  has  sumthin' 
respec'able  to  denominate  him  with."  "  Piazzer, 
Piazzer ! "  thoughtfully  repeated  his  wife,  who  had, 
after  all,  mistaken  the  name.  "  I  allus  thought 
1  piazzer  '  was  a  pair  of  steps  an'  no  gin'ral  at  all ; 
but  all  right,  Joshua.  Let  it  be  Piazzer,  then.  I 
like  de  foreign  accent  of  de  term."  So  Amanda 
thought  her  child's  name  was  Piazza,  and  Joshua 
took  but  little  notice  whether  his  wife  had  caught 
it  aright  or  not;  he  was  only  sure  that  his  son 
bore  the  name  of  the  great  Spanish  conqueror, 
and  that  he  had  at  last  settled  a  very  vexatious 
question. 

Under  this  title,  then,  little  Pizarro  flourished, 
and  became  the  playfellow  and  intimate  com 
panion  of  Dick  Reydon.  He  was  constantly  at  Mr.  Reydon's  house, 
and  shared  with  Dick  his  noon-day  meal,  and  his  place  by  the  nursery 
fire.  The  boys  of  Compton,  however,  soon  discovered  that  the  word 
"  Pizarro  "  was  much  too  long  and  unwieldy  for  their  use.  "  Pizarro 
come  here,"  and  "  Pizarro  go  there,"  wasted  more  breath  than  they 
could  afford  to  lose,  and  was  endured  just  long  enough  to  find  a  nick 
name  to  take  its  place.  So  "  Pizarro "  was  soon  shortened  into 


RICHARD  LION  REYDON.  —  PIZARRO  FITTS.  17 

"  Peez,"  in  spite  of  his  mother's  persistence  in  calling  him  "  Piazzer  " 
with  a  "  foreign  accent."  "  Dick  and  Peez,"  or,  as  the  boys  called 
them,  "  Duck  and  Peas,"  were  always  together.  They  "  stood  up  " 
for  each  other,  went  bird-nesting,  and  in  to  swim  together  ;  and  were 
naughty  and  good  at  one  and  the  same  time.  They  did  n't  go  to  the 
same  school,  however ;  indeed,  "  Peez  "  went  to  no  school  at  all,  but 
generally  "  waited  round "  until  school  was  out,  to  meet  his  little 
master  and  suggest  to  him  and  the  other  boys  the  mischief  he  had 
concocted  during  study-hours. 


CHAPTER  II. 

MISS  KAMLIN'S  SCHOOL. 

ISS  KAMLIN'S  school,  where  Dick  Reydon 
went  for  so  many  years,  was  a  typical  school 
of  fifty  years  ago,  and  we  may  perhaps  be  par 
doned  if  we  describe  it  with  some  minuteness. 
It  was  held  in  the  back  room,  on  the  first 
floor  of  a  two -story  wooden  house  with 
wooden  steps.  The  space  between  it  and  the 
next  house  was  occupied  by  a  high,  unpainted, 
rotten  fence,  with  a  tumble-down,  rickety  gate,  hanging  to  it  by  one 
hinge.  Right  under  this  gate  was  a  perennial  puddle.  The  feet  of 
gathering  scholars  from  day  to  day  had  worn  a  perceptible  depression 
in  the  ground,  where  wandering  rills  of  water  congregated.  The  soil 
in  this  shady  spot  between  the  two  houses  was  black,  and  always 
damp.  A  low  slatted  fence  separated  the  yard  in  the  rear  from  a 
large  lot,  where  ploughing  and  planting  went  on  regularlv  every  year 
as  the  spring  came  round,  leaving  during  the  autumn  and  winter  a 
wild  waste  of  potato-hills  and  dead  cornstalks.  On  either  side  the 
back  door  of  the  house  (which  was  the  entrance  to  the  school)  holly 
hocks  and  fragrant  lilacs  grew  ;  while  a  few  tall,  masculine  sunflowers 
looked  furtively  over  the  fence  at  the  arriving  scholars.  This  school 
room,  with  its  low  ceiling,  had  no  carpet.  It  served  also  as  a  kitchen 
for  Miss  Kamlin,  and  boasted  a  good  sized  cooking-stove  which  burnt 
wood,  and  was  useful  for  comfort  as  well  as  for  culinary  purposes. 


3/755  KAMLIN  >S  SCHOOL. 


19 


Miss  Kamlin  sat  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  this  room,  in  a  high- 
backed  rocking-chair,  with  stuffed  calico  cushion.  Before  her  was 
a  motley  group  of  patchwork 
and  spelling-books,  nuts  and 
green  apples,  —  these  latter 
being  the  contents  of  scholars' 
pockets.  Hanging  near  the 
window,  and  in  convenient  lo 
cation  for  reference,  were  her 
big,  round  pincushion  and  scis 
sors  ;  her  long,  wooden  ferule, 
and  a  large,  dried,  yellow  gourd. 
The  bees  flew  in  and  out  of  the 
window,  while  the  June  air 
cooed  softly  around  the  yellow 
gourd,  and  gently  stirred  the 
dangling  ferule, — thus  attract 
ing  the  scholars'  attention,  and 
quietly  reminding  them  of  the 
reserved  force  concealed  therein.  On  the  little  table  beside  Miss  Kam 
lin  lay  two  long,  sharp,  wooden  "  pointers,"  to  indicate  the  different 
letters  of  the  alphabet  to  the  infant  class  in  spelling  and  reading.  It 
required  the  assistance  of  these  celebrated  instruments  to  keep  the  at 
tention  of  the  scholars  concentrated  upon  such  important  sentences  as 
"  Is  he  up  ?  "  "  So  am  I,"  and  "  We  will  go."  Miss  Kamlin  was  a 
tall,  thin,  erect  woman,  with  a  dry,  brown  frizzette,  kept  on  by  a  broad 
piece  of-  black  velvet.  She  was  an  estimable  woman  in  every  sense  of 
the  word,  with  an  aquiline  nose.  She  was  a  long-suffering  creature 
too,  up  to  a  certain  point ;  but  that  point  was  certain,  and  the  boys 


20  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

knew  it.  At  such  dreadful  junctures,  when  that  point  was  reached,  it 
required  a  good  deal  of  nerve  to  march  up  and  gracefully  careen  over 
Miss  Kamlin's  knees  for  the  coming  castigation.  A  species  of  refined 
cruelty  seemed  to  possess  her  at  such  times,  which  prompted  her  to 
allow  the  expectant  boy  to  lie  several  minutes  in  this  ignoble  position 
before  the  punishment  came ;  but  it  was  sure  to  come,  and  enough  of 
it,  too. 

Still,  Miss  Kamlin  was  kind-hearted,  and  full  of  patience,  or  else 
she  would  have  died  long  before  she  did.  Twenty  or  thirty  scholars 
of  all  ages  and  sizes,  and  of  both  sexes,  filled  her  school-room,  and 
Dick  Reydon  formed  acquaintances  there  which  lasted  throughout  his 
whole  life.  After  a  few  remarks  more  concerning  the  school-room 
and  the  adjoining  apartment,  we  will  describe  some  of  Dick  Reydon's 
school-fellows. 

There  were  four  or  five  benches,  big  and  little,  in  Miss  Kamlin's 
school-room.  They  had  no  backs,  and  were  shiny  from  friction  of 
frock  and  trousers,  and  well  hacked  by  the  keen  blade  of  the  youthful 
jack-knife.  There  was  a  double-desk  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  re 
served  for  the  two  best  scholars.  Here  these  patterns  of  righteousness 
were  allowed  to  stow  away  their  "  goodies ; "  and  this  spot,  also,  was 
the  general  receptacle  for  the  broken  slates  and  the  dog-eared  spelling- 
books  which  constituted  the  working  capital  of  the  school. 

In  summer  the  school-room  was  hot,  and  Miss  Kamlin  would  often 
fill  a  good-sized  tub  with  water,  which  she  placed  in  the  middle  of  the 
floor.  From  this  the  scholars  filled  large  pewter  mugs  and  slaked 
their  thirst,  and  from  time  to  time  sprinkled  the  floor  from  the  same 
source.  Miss  Kamlin  had  a  mysterious  closet  wliere  she  kept  all  her 
crockery  and  her  dainty  tid-bits.  To  this  cupboard  she  frequently 
repaired  during  school-hours,  and  often  remained  so  long  that  it  ex- 


MISS  KAMLIN'S   SCHOOL. 


21 


cited  the  scholars'  curiosity,  and  they  would  peep  through  the  crack 
of  the  door,  and  catch  her  munching  away  at  her  hidden  repast. 
Poor  creature  !  No  wonder  that  she  had  a  "  gone-ness  "  in  her  stomach 
after  punishing  so  many  boys,  and  trying  to  teach  so  many  girls  the 
"  capitals  of  the  States."  Dick  was  never  able,  however,  to  discover 
exactly  what  it  was  she  was  eating  in  that  closet.  Appetizing  whiffs 
would  wander  forth  from  time  to 
time,  which  so  wonderfully  quick 
ened  his  and  the  "  other  fellows' ' 
appetites,  that  they  were  almost 
ready  to  attack  that  depot  of  "  good 
ies,"  and  satisfy  themselves  with  its 
contents  by  force.  Miss  Kamlin's 
"  best  room "  was  the  front  one. 
Here,  curiously  enough,  the  bad  boys 
were  sent,  to  stay  until  she  saw  fit 
to  recall  them.  In  this  apartment 
hung  a  picture  of  two  black  pointers, 
in  a  very  gilt  frame.  A  red  and 
green  carpet,  staggering  under  the 
weight  of  Brobdingnagian  roses,  was 
spread  at  one's  feet,  while  a  fire- 
board  painted  black  and  varnished,  —  but  adorned  with  specimens  of 
scissor-cuttings  of  animals  and  birds  —  covered  the  empty  fire-place. 
These  specimens  of  art  were  the  product  of  the  talent  of  one  of  Miss 
Kamlin's  old  scholars,  who  had  "  done  "  these  things  as  a  token  of 
gratitude  for  his  early  training,  and  which  she  had  utilized  in  this 
manner.  A  weird,  solemn,  and  uncanny  sensation  was  always  the  result 
of  being  sent  into  this  silent,  mysterious  "  keeping-room."  The  boy 


22 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


banished  there  spent  his  tune  in  wonder.  He  expected  every  instant 
that  the  black  pointers  would  leap  out  of  the  frame  at  him  ;  or  else  that 
the  fire-board  would  be  hauled  suddenly  aside,  to  allow  the  entrance  of 
some  old  "  Bloody-bones."  People  talk  about  the  "  emptiness  "  of  a 

"  best  chamber."  I  think  they  mis 
take  the  silence  which  reigns  every 
where  for  emptiness,  because  in  Miss 
Kamlin's  best  room  even  the  shovel 
and  the  tongs  seemed  to  have  eyes, 
and  the  pictures  on  the  walls  were  all 
pointing  at  the  bad  boy  who  stood  in 
the  middle  rolling  his  frightened 
eyes  about.  From  this  oppressive 
apartment  the  criminal  was  always 
glad  enough  to  escape,  and  return  to 
the  school  -  room  ;  even  though  he 
passed  through  Miss  Kamlin's  bed 
chamber,  which  had  a  feather-bed 
about  three  feet  thick,  and  upon 
which  the  girls  who  fainted  or  had 
fits  were  always  thrown. 

In  this  little  school-room,  sixteen 
feet  square,  Dick  Reydon  learned  to  read  and  spell.  Here  he  stood 
up  before  Miss  Kamlin,  and  told  off  the  capitals  of  the  United  States 
in  unison  with  the  rest  of  the  class,  which  was  swaying  meanwhile 
from  right  to  left.  Here  he  got  up  to  the  head  of  his  class  by  spell 
ing  "  separate  "  with  an  a  instead  of  in  all  sorts  of  other  ways,  as  the 
rest  of  the  scholars  insisted  upon  doing.  For  example,  Miss  Kamlin 
would  say,  "  Spell  separate  !  " 


MISS  KAMLIN 'S  SCHOOL.  23 

First  Boy  (pronouncing  first).  —  "  Separate  "  (defining  next),  "  to 
disunite ;  to  disjoin.  S-e-p,  sep,  e,  sepe,  r-a-t-e,  rate.  Seperate." 

Miss  Kamlin  would  then  say,  "  Wrong  !     Next !  " 

Second  Boy.  —  "  S-e-p-e-r,  seper,  r-a-t-e,  rate,  seperrate." 

"  Wrong  !     Next !     Deborah,  spell  separate  !  " 

Deb.  —  "  S-e-p-p-e-r,  sepper,  r-a-t-e,  rate,  sepperrate  !  " 

"  Wrong  !     Albert,  spell  separate  !  " 

Alb.  (pronouncing  separate).  —  "  S-o-e-p-a-r-r-a-t-e,  soeparrate  !  :' 

"  Wrong  !     Richard,  spell  separate  !  " 

Rich,  (pronouncing  separate).  — "  S-e-p-a,  sepa,  r-a-t-e,  rate,  sepa 
rate." 

Miss  K.  —  "  Correct.  Go  to  the  head  !  The  rest  will  stay  after 
school  until  they  have  learned  how  to  spell  that  easy  word !  First 
class  in  Arithmetic  !  " 

They  never  had  whole  slates  at  Miss  Kamlin' s,  —  only  pieces  of 
them.  Sums  were  done  on  dark,  greasy,  blue  fragments  of  what  were 
once  slates.  These  fragments  abounded  in  lighter  blue  spots,  looking 
like  human  eyes,  imaginary  islands,  and  the  bodies  of  ugly  beasts,  to 
which  the  scholars  would  add  legs  and  wings.  On  these  fragments, 
too,  the  righteous  ones  in  the  big  double-desk  amused  themselves  by 
making  snow-storms  out  of  pencil-dust  and  saliva  ;  which  when  dry 
were  very  suggestive  of  the  real  article,  especially  if  the  effigy  of  a 
man  or  a  dog  was  sketched  in,  ploughing  his  way  through  these  pencil 
"  blizzards." 

When  a  boy  was  very  good  indeed,  he  was  allowed  to  go  down  in  the 
cellar  during  school-hours,  and  pile  up  wood  for  Miss  Kamlin's  stove. 
If  this  privilege  happened  at  the  time  when  the  multiplication-table 
class  recited,  so  much  the  better.  As  the  floor  was  not  a  double  one, 
the  boy  thus  excused,  could  hear  what  was  going  on  above  his  head  as 


24 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


plain  as  day,  and  yet  not  be  called  upon  to  recite.  This  was  a  rare 
delight.  When  the  class  reached,  in  the  seventh  table,  "  seven  times 
eight  and  seven  times  nine,"  he  would  pause  in  his  piling  to  hear  who 
would  make  the  first  mistake.  He  chuckled  to  himself  (not  so  loud, 
however,  as  to  be  heard  up-stairs),  when  Abigail  Moore  or  Nancy 
Adams  said,  "  seven  times  eight  are  sixty  three,"  and  "  seven  times  nine 
are  seventy-two,"  because  some  one  of  his  class  was  just  as  sure  to  make 
these  mistakes  every  day,  as  Miss  Kamlin  was  sure  to  make  the  class 
recite  the  tables ;  and  he  thought  it  was  as  well  to  allow  some  other 
boy  to  miss  and  stay  after  school,  as  the  righteous  little  wood-piler 
underneath  the  school-room.  But,  unconsciously,  he  held  up  his  hand 
in  the  cellar  to  signify  that  he  knew  the  correct  answer.  He  blushed 

scarlet  a  minute  afterwards  (as  he 
heard  the  right  reply  given)  to  think 
he  was  just  on  the  point  of  saying 
"  seven  times  nine  are  sixty-eight ;  " 
but  he  whistled  to  himself,  and  went 
on  piling  his  wood  as  if  nothing  par 
ticular  had  happened,  —  happy  only 
that  nobody  was  looking,  and  that 
he  had  escaped. 

Snow-storms,  at  the  time  Miss 
Kamlin  kept  school,  were  deeper  and 
remained  longer  on  the  ground  than 
any  that  have  fallen  since  Compton 
became  a  city.  The  drifts  were  al 
ways  above  a  boy's  knees,  and  it 
took  ever  so  long  for  the  track  to  be  broken.  In  those  days,  ox-sleds 
and  high-backed  sleighs  (where  the  thills  and  the  horse  were  clear 


MISS  KAMLIN'S   SCHOOL.  25 

out  at  one  side)  were  to  be  seen  everywhere ;  so  that  when  one  of 
those  sleds,  loaded  with  wood,  passed  down  the  street,  there  would  al 
ways  be  a  crowd  of  Miss  Kamlin's  boys  hanging  on  to  the  runners, 
or  else  being  dragged  on  their  sleds  in  a  grand  procession,  shouting 
and  snowballing  each  other.  On  snow-storm  afternoons  it  used  to  get 
dark  very  early,  so  that  Miss  Kamlin  would  be  compelled  to  light  up 
her  two  low,  brass,  greasy  lamps,  so  as  to  be  able  to  hear  the  last  class 
in  geography. 

It  will,  perhaps,  be  well  for  us  to  mention  here  the  names  of  some  of 
the  scholars  who  attended  Miss  Kamlin's  school ;  who  were  all  such 
friends  of  Dick  Reydon. 

Here  they  are  :  — 

Al.  Gould.  Peter  Smart. 

Deborah  Good.  Daniel  Kafee. 

Joe  Wood.  Olive  Barton. 

Rosamond  Tarbox.  Darius  Fenno. 

Eben  Tucker.  Simeon  Brewer. 

Mary  Tarbox.  Jane  Newsom. 

Carrington  Padelford.  Mary  Arnold. 

Abigail  Moore.  Eph.  Bowen. 

Nancy  Adams.  Joe  Hodges,  etc. 

Deborah  Good  was  a  tall,  nice-looking  girl,  with  a  prepossessing 
face,  —  somewhat  freckled.  She  wore  gold  beads  about  her  neck, 
was  constantly  eating  raisins,  and  going  through  the  operation  of  dis 
engaging  the  pits  from  the  pulp.  She  had  an  odd  way  of  pulling  out 
the  skin  of  her  neck  even  with  her  chin,  and  letting  it  snap  back.  She 
was  a  good  scholar,  and  wore  gingham  pantalets,  which  extended  to 
her  ankles.  Rosamond  Tarbox  sucked  her  thumb  to  such  an  alarming 
extent  that  it  looked  pointed  and  parboiled.  Her  parents,  in  order 


26  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

to  cure  their  child  of  this  habit,  covered  the  digit  with  aloes,  which 
destroyed  the  little  girl's  happiness,  and  kept  her  constantly  in  tears 
—  bitter  tears. 

Jane  Newsom  ate  slate  pencils,  and  became  so  chalky  and  pallid 
that  you  could  almost  do  sums  on  her. 

Dan  Kafee  was  a  good  little  fellow,  but  always  ailing.  The  doctors 
had  given  him  so  much  mercury  that  his  teeth  used  to  drop  out  on 
the  school-room  floor  when  his  nurse,  who  came  to  carry  him  home, 
jerked  his  head  about,  to  tie  the  strings  of  his  hat.  These  dental 
specimens  were  found  by  the  stay-after-school  scholars  under  the  big 
bench,  after  Dan  was  gone ;  and  the  lucky  discoverer  would  hold  up 
his  hand  to  Miss  Kamlin  and  say,  "  Here 's  one  of  Dan  Kafee's  teeth, 
he  dropped  just  now  !  " 

There  was  another  of  Dick  Rey don's  school-mates  who  deserves 
mention.  This  was  a  small  urchin  named  Darius  Fenno.  He  was  a 
sort  of  martyr  in  the  school.  That  is,  he  suffered  every  sort  of  indig 
nity  from  the  other  scholars  without  whimpering.  It  very  often  hap 
pens  that  in  small  communities  like  Miss  Kamlin's  school  there  is  a 
particular  scholar  who,  either  by  his  looks,  his  manners,  or  by  some 
personal  defect,  offends  his  companions,  and  excites  their  worst  traits 
of  character.  Darius  Fenno  was  one  of  that  sort.  He  was  a  forlorn 
looking  specimen.  His  under-lip  hung  out,  and  he  had  a  meeching 
expression  of  countenance.  Poor  fellow  !  He  constantly  needed  a 
handkerchief,  but  never  had  one.  He  was  forever  "  tagging  "  after 
the  "big  girls,"  and  there  is  nothing  meaner  than  that.  He  never 
resented  anything ;  for  the  girls  would  pinch  him,  and  stick  pins 
into  him  ;  and  he  would  patiently  bear  it  all,  looking  up,  like  a  dove, 
at  his  tormentors,  all  the  while.  But  after  receiving  his  punish 
ment,  he  quietly  commenced  his  "  tagging  "  again,  as  if  nothing  had 


MISS  KAMLIN'S   SCHOOL.  27 

happened.  He  wore  short  breeches  buttoned  up  at  the  side.  This 
showed  his  bare  skin  at  the  gaping  pocket-holes.  Some  of  the  biggest 
and  wickedest  of  the  girls  would  pinch  and  nip  this  vulnerable  and  ex 
posed  part,  to  see  how  long  Darius  would  stand  it.  Any  one  who  has 
been  pinched  by  a  girl  knows  how  these  nips  hurt.  Darius  stood 
these  onslaughts  until  his  little  sides  were  a  deep  crimson  color,  and 
then  bawled  at  the  "  top  of  his  lungs."  This  stopped  the  game.  So 
you  see  there  were  tyrants  in  those  days,  even  in  good  Miss  Kamlin's 
school. 

One  of  the  privileges,  at  this  ancient  seminary  of  learning,  was  to  be 
sent,  during  school-hours,  on  an  errand.  Dick  Reydon  was  sometimes 
selected  for  this  service.  Once,  when  he  was  only  nine  years  old, 
Miss  Kamlin  dispatched  him  to  the  post-office.  He  was  ignorant  of 
the  method  which  people  used  to  obtain  their  letters.  He  simply  ob- 
.served  that  they  entered  the  office,  tapped  on  their  respective  boxes, 
repeating  their  numbers,  —  "  Twenty,"  "  Eighty-four,"  or  whatever  it 
might  be ;  and  he  saw  the  clerk  hand  out  to  them,  with  a  smile  and 
a  bow,  bundles  of  letters  and  papers.  It  seemed  to  him  that  letters 
came  every  day  regularly,  from  everybody  to  everybody,  and  of  course 
he  thought  Miss  Kamlin  had  her  portion  like  the  rest.  With  this 
crude  idea  of  the  postal  system,  Dick  rushed  down  the  main  street  to 
the  letter  department,  repeating  to  himself,  "  Fifty-six,  fifty-six,"  that 
being  the  number  of  Miss  Kamlin's  box.  Arriving  at  the  office,  he 
raised  himself  on  tip-toe  and  tapped  bravely  on  his  box,  as  everybody 
else  did,  and  sang  out  "  Fifty-six,  fifty-six  !  "  The  clerk  scowled  at 
him  through  the  wicket,  and  said  in  hoarse  tones,  "  There  's  no  letter 
there"!  what  d'  ye  mean  ?  " 

"  Miss  Kamlin  sent  me  down  here  to  get  her  letter  in  No.  56,"  re 
plied  Dick,  "  and  I  'm  going  to  get  it !  " 


28 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


"  I  tell  ye,"  answered  the  angry  official,  "  there 's  no  letter  for  ye. 
Get  out,  or  I  '11  call  the  constable !  "  Richard  began  to  shake  his 
head  ominously.  Tears  sprang  into  his  eyes.  He  thought  the  clerk 
was  withholding  the  letter.  He  did  n't  dare  return  without  it,  so  he 
hung  about  the  vestibule,  hoping  that  the  man  would  go  off  to  dinner, 
and  that  some  one  else  would  take  his  place,  and  he  would  then  ask 
him.  While  he  waited,  he  wondered  why  this  person  was  so  angry 
with  him,  and  so  very  bland  and  pleasant  to  everybody  else.  At  last 
he  determined  to  make  just  one  more  attempt,  so  boldly  walking  up 
to  box  No  56,  he  tapped  it  in  a  loud  and  decided  manner,  saying, 
"  I  want  Miss  Karalin's  letter,  and  you  just  give  it  to  me  now !  " 

With  that  the  angry  clerk 
disappeared  from  the  window 
an  instant ;  then  a  door  flew 
open,  and  out  he  came  with 
a  whip,  and  out  of  the  post- 
office  poor  Dick  went  with  a 
bound  —  hat  in  hand,  fol 
lowed  by  the  angry  clerk  in 
hot  pursuit,  screaming,  "  If 
ever  I  catch  you  here  again, 
I  '11  cut  your  ears  off,  you 
little  scamp ! " 

Dick  Reydon  did  n't  stop 
running  until  he  got  inside  the  high  gate  in  the  alley  that  led  up  to 
the  school.  He  poured  into  Miss  Kamlin's  ears  the  details  of  his  ex 
perience.  The  good  woman  listened  to  his  narration  with  a  smile,  and 
then,  patting  him  on  the  cheek,  said,  "  My  dear  !  you  should  always 
be  sure  that  the  box  contains  a  letter  before  you  scream  out  the 
number." 


MISS  KAMLIN'S   SCHOOL.  29 

"  Oh  !  "  replied  Dick,  "  I  did  n't  know  that.  Perhaps  that  was  the 
reason  then  why  that  horrid  man  was  so  cross." 

Chirography  was  not  a  specialty  of  Miss  Kamlin's  teaching.  The 
scholars  made  slow  progress  in  this  branch  of  education.  Dick  was 
naturally  quick  to  learn,  and  his  father  taught  him  to  write  his  own 
name  in  a  single  evening,  after  he  had  labored  for  half  a  year  to  no 
purpose  over  pot-hooks  and  whole  pages  of  m's  under  his  school- 
marm's  tuition.  The  more  advanced  scholars  used  a  writing-book  with 
the  picture  of  a  human  hand,  holding  the  quill  in  the  proper  position, 
on  the  cover. 

"  A  man's  manners  commonly  make  his  fortune." 

"  Let  beauty  shine  in  every  line." 

"  Application  in  youth  makes  old  age  comfortable." 

"  Duty  is  the  delight  of  the  good." 

These  were  the  most  popular  lines  for  Miss  Kamlin's  scholars  to  copy. 

The  first  attempt  at  these  wholesome  proverbs  was  usually  the  best. 
After  that  the  handwriting  grew  poorer  and  crookeder  and  more  slant 
ing,  until  one  could  hardly  distinguish  whether  the  bottom  line  was 
writing  or  shading. 

It  was  as  good  as  a  play  to  watch  the  countenances  of  the  class  in 
writing,  as  they  attempted  the  capital  letters  at  the  commencement  of 
the  sentences. 

The  C's  and  the  Y's  and  the  L's  produced  horrible  contortions  of 
face.  The  eyeballs  would  stare  and  the  eyebrows  elevate  with  the  up 
ward  strokes.  Then  the  mouth  and  lips  would  stick  out  and  seem  to 
follow  the  pen  as  it  described  the  long  round  quirls  of  the  D's,  and 
the  big  loops  of  the  L's,  while  the  tongue  would  run  out  at  one  side  of 
the  mouth  as  the  writer  reached  at  last  the  end  of  his  sentence,  hav 
ing  successfully  covered  with  ink  both  his  page  and  his  fingers. 


30  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

It  was  remarkable  how  few  ever  imitated  the  copy,  either  of  the 
line  to  be  written,  or  the  correct  position  of  the  body  and  hand  during 
the  operation.  Each  succeeding  line  was  a  poorer  imitation  of  the  one 
immediately  above  it,  and  this  with  no  reference  to  the  parent  line 
at  the  top  of  the  page ;  while  most  of  the  scholars  found  it  easier  to 
write  with  their  books  turned  topsy-turvy  and  their  heads  and  faces 
buried  in  their  left  arms.  Mistakes  were  always  smooched  out  with 
the  forefinger,  and  pens  invariably  cleansed  either  by  sucking  the  ink 
or  wiping  on  top  of  the  head. 

In  after  years  Dick  Reydon  experienced  great  delight  in  the  mem 
ories  which  lingered  about  Miss  Kamlin's  school.  He  remembered 
how  hard  a  time  he  thought  he  was  having,  and  that  his  life  then 
oftentimes  seemed  to  be  a  burden  hardly  worth  the  bearing.  Still  the 
golden  hours  flew  by  just  as  if  he  had  prized  them  ;  and  in  maturity,, 
like  everybody  else,  he  perceived  clearly  that  this  educational  epoch 
was  the  most  delightful  portion  of  his  existence.  Even  the  feruling 
which  he  occasionally  received  became  a  sweet  memory  to  him  in  after 
years,  as  he  thought  it  all  over  in  his  great  office,  among  his  clerks 
and  his  business  cares.  He  often  brought  up  before  him,  with  a  laugh, 
just  how  he  must  have  looked,  when  he  had  been  detected  eating 
raisins,  or  biting  apples,  against  the  rules :  how  he  hung  his  head,  and 
made  haste  slowly  to  obey  Miss  Kamlin's  commands  to  advance  and 
receive  his  punishment.  How  he  would  cross  two  eye-winkers  in  the 
palm  of  his  hand,  in  order  to  neutralize  the  pain  produced  by  the 
ferule,  and  rub  liquorice  juice  over  it  for  the  same  object.  How  he 
flinched  and  winked  at  the  expectant  blow.  How  he  stuck  out  his 
hand  and  drew  it  back  again,  and  raised  his  right  leg,  and  put  on  an 
agonized  expression.  How  many  times  Miss  Kamlin  missed  his  hand, 
and  only  struck  the  air ;  and  how,  at  last,  she  seized  his  fingers  with 


MISS  KAMLIN'S  SCHOOL.  31 

sudden  ferocity  and  "  whanged  "  them  to  her  heart's  content,  —  giv 
ing  him  also  two  or  three  on  his  legs  and  thighs.  All  this  misery  (as 
he  boo-hooed  his  way  back  to  his  seat,  —  supporting  his  chastened 
palm  with  the  "  well-one,"  and  ominously  shaking  his  head)  was  light, 
in  comparison  to  that  which  torments  a  merchant  when  he  wonders 
how  he  can  pay  the  twenty  thousand  dollars  he  owes  with  the  nine 
teen  thousand  he  has. 

And  then  Dick  Revdon's  vacations  !      Bliss  unutterable  !    Beatitude 

\) 

indescribable  !  The  dance  — in  which  all  the  scholars  joined  when  the 
final  session  of  the  school  had  closed,  and  they  were  assembled  in  little 
groups  in  the  blind,  damp  alley  just  by  the  tumble-down  gate  on  one 
hinge,  and  in  close  proximity  to  the  little  puddle  under  it  —  was  like 
the  war  dance  of  the  Wampanoags  after  a  victory  over  their  enemies. 

"  Good-by  scholars  —  Good-by  school  ! 
Good-by  Kamlin  —  cross  old  fool." 

They  did  'nt  exactly  mean  what  those  lines  suggested,  but  sweet  liberty 
gave  license  to  their  little  tongues.  These  words  rang  in  his  ears  like 
a  loving  requiem  over  the  dead  past,  as  he  sat  at  his  mahogany  desk 
in  his  office  in  Compton. 


CHAPTER   III. 


WARTS.    "FITS'  KEEPS." 

LL  of  Dick  Reydon's  early  memories, 
until  he  got  to  be  fourteen  years  old, 
were  indissolubly  connected  with  Miss 
Kamlin's  school.  It  was  like  a  second 
home  to  him,  for  indeed  the  most  of 
his  waking  hours  were  spent  there. 
School  "  let  out  "  punctually  at  twelve 
o'clock.  Forth  rushed  the  boys  and 
girls  ;  the  boys  first,  stamping  like  so 
many  wild  horses :  some  with  com 
forters  around  neck  (if  it  happened  to  be  cold  weather),  and  some 
with  this  article  about  the  waist ;  in  skull  caps  and  fur  caps  and  no 
caps.  To  complete  the  picture  we  must  imagine  any  amount  of  hair 
pulling,  shin  kicking,  pin  pricking,  and  loud  shouting.  It  took  but  a 
minute  for  these  future  fathers  and  mothers  to  empty  the  building. 
Dick  Reydon,  Pete  Smart,  Al.  Gould,  and  Eben  Tucker  were  the  most 
popular  boys  in  the  school.  They  were  half  a  head  taller  than  the 
other  boys.  Their  arms  were  too  long  for  their  jackets.  Their  trousers 
were  too  short  for  their  legs.  Their  voices  were  changing,  and  their 
thick  locks  needed  cutting. 

At  a  certain  age  a  boy  seems  to  be  afflicted  with  great  numbers  of 
warts  and  freckles.     They  are  not  identified  so  much  with  people  of 


WARTS.     "FUS1  KEEPS."  33 

riper  years,  as  they  are  with  the  rising  generation.  Why  this  is  so 
remains  a  mystery.  Some  boys  in  Dick  Reydon's  time  thought  it  was 
because  they  had  touched  a  toad-stool  in  their  sleep.  Perhaps  it  was  a 
special  dispensation  sent  on  them  for  constantly  meddling  with  every 
thing  they  ought  not  to,  and  poking  their  good-natured  faces  into 
other  people's  affairs.  Whatever  be  the  truth,  certain  it  is  that  wher 
ever  you  saw  a  boy,  there  you  found  a  freckle  and  a  wart ;  just  as  on 
the  western  plains,  when  you  meet  a  prairie  dog,  there  you  will  in 
evitably  encounter  the  associate  rattlesnake  and  little  owl. 

The  youngsters  above  alluded  to  had  their  hands  and  faces  covered 
with  them.  Pete  Smart's  freckles  in  particular  were  very  brown  and 
all  run  together,  while  Dick  Reydon's  warts  —  little  and  big  —  num 
bered  just  forty-two.  As  it  was  spring,  and  marble  time  was  approach 
ing,  warts  on  the  fingers  would  be  very  inconvenient ;  so  the  boys 
thought  it  proper  to  clear  them  off  their  hands.  To  this  end  a  visit 
to  Mr.  Grimes  on  Friendship  Street  was  planned.  This  wonderful  old 
gentleman  cured  the  worst  case  of  warts  in  five  weeks,  and  was  the 
friend  of  all  the  boys  for  miles  around. 

There  was  a  sort  of  rivalry  in  Miss  Kamlin's  school  as  to  who  pos 
sessed  the  largest  number  of  warts.  A  certain  amount  of  every  recess 
was  consumed  in  counting  up  these  excrescences.  There  were  also 
certain  unwritten  laws  relating  to  them.  It  was  against  these  laws, 
for  instance,  to  count  anything  which  looked  like  a  mole  ;  so  that 
considerable  discussion  was  often  occasioned  by  one  fellow  asserting 
that  "  That 's  a  wart,"  while  the  others,  in  not  very  elegant  language, 
denied  the  assertion  with,  "  'T  ain't  neither.  It 's  only  a  darned  little 
mole,",  and  the  thing  wouldn't  be  counted.  There  was  no  doubt 
about  Dick's  warts,  however.  He  had  forty-two  good,  big  fellows. 
One  of  the  most  troublesome  of  all  was  what  the  boys  called  "a 

3 


34 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


seeder,"  right  on  the  joint  of  his  right  thumb,  and  which  came  awk 
wardly  in  the  way  when  he  played  marbles.  One  day  in  May,  after 
school  was  dismissed,  a  wart-meeting  was  held  in 
the  yard.  Pete's  voice,  which  was  just  changing, 
was  heard  in  a  high  treble  key,  gradually  sinking 
into  a  deep  bass,  "  Le  *s  go  to  ol'  Grimes'  in  Frien'- 
ship  Street,  an'  get  our  warts  cured !  " 

"  Come  on,  fellows  !  "  cried  another  urchin. 
"  He  on'y  charges  five  cents  for  ten.  I  've  got 
'leven,  but  I  '11  make  him  throw  that  one  in  ! " 

"  That  ain't  a  wart,"  said  one  of  the  little  boys, 
inspecting  the  protuberance. 
"  What  is  it  then,  you  fool,  if  it  ain't  a  wart  ?  " 
"  It 's  on'y  a  freckle  !  " 

"  Freckle  !     Get  out !     '  T  is  a  wart  too  !     Say,  Dick,   ain't  that  a 
wart  ?  " 

"  Le'  me  see  it," 
replied  the  umpire, 
inspecting  the  ex 
crescence. 

"  Well !  it 's  so 
much  like  a  wart, 
that  if  he  chalks 
it,  it  '11  go,  sure." 

"  There  !  I  told 
you  't  was  a  wart. 
Come   on,  fellows  !  "     The  crowd  of  boys  rushed  out  of  the  yard  like 
a  flock  of  birds,  over  to  the  "  wart-killer's,"  on  Friendship  Street. 
Ebenezer  Grimes  was  a  top-turner.     He  occupied  a  little  low-studded 


WARTS.     "FUS1   KEEPS."  35 

shop  in  a  two-storied,  gambrel-roofed,  antediluvian  sort  of  a  house, 
'way  down  at  the  bottom  of  the  street,  and  so  near  the  salt  water  that 
one  could  smell  it  very  plainly  whenever  the  tide  came  in. 

He  turned  tops  for  all  the  boys  in  Compton.  These  playthings, 
manufactured  by  Old  Grimes,  had  a  local  celebrity  as  being  the  best 
"  proguers,"  and  the  "  tastiest  sleepers,"  of  any  in  the  neighborhood. 
Old  Grimes  was  a  genial  old  man,  of  middle  stature,  with  a  crop  of 
short,  white  hair  sticking  up  all  over  his  head.  He  had  a  couple  of 
dark  piercing  eyes  which  peeped  out  through  his  bushy  black  eye 
brows,  and  his  face  was  always  smiling.  He  had  the  right  sort  of  dis 
position  to  suit  the  boys,  and  just  the  kind  of  patience  to  meet  the  in 
cessant  requirements  as  to  how,  and  in  what  shape,  their  tops  were  to 
be  manufactured.  The  old  man  chewed  lots  of  tobacco.  His  good- 
natured  mouth  was  fairly  afloat  with  it ;  so  much  so,  that  each  time 
he  answered  a  boy's  question,  —  and  that  was  every  five  seconds,  —  he 
was  forced  to  expel  a  certain  amount  of  the  extract  into  a  wide  wooden 
box  filled  with  top-chippings,  which  stood  in  convenient  proximity  to 
his  work-bench.  Tops,  half  turned  and  finished  ;  spears,  blunt  and 
sharpened  ;  pieces  of  imperfect  wood,  and  wood  in  the  rough ;  turn 
ing-lathes  and  chisels,  planes  and  oil-cans,  glue-pots  and  the  old  gen 
tleman's  tin  kettle  containing  his  dinner,  were  all  lying  together  in 
delightful  confusion,  as  the  boys  burst  into  the  shop  in  breathless 
haste.  The  ancient  turner  looked  up  from  his  work  with  a  beaming 
smile,  and  expelled  the  usual  amount  of  tobacco  juice,  in  order  to  be 
ready  to  answer  the  flood  of  questions  which  he  knew  would  be  show 
ered  upon  him. 

"  Mr.-  Grimes,  will  you  cure  our  warts  ?  " 

"  How  much  d'  ye  charge  ?  " 

"  I  've  got  ten." 


36 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


"  An'  I  've  got  thirteen." 
"  An'  I  've  got  twenty-one,  and  three  moles." 

"  I  've  got  forty-two.     Say !  how  long  '11  it  take  ?     This  one  on  my 

thumb  hurts  like  time  when  I   g-o 

o 

to  bend  it  playing  marbles." 

"  Say,  Mr.  Grimes,  can  you  cure 
them?" 

"  Is  my  top  done  ?  "  "  What 's 
this  big  one  for ?  "  "A  proguer, 
I  guess."  "  The  spear  came  out 
of  the  last  one  you  made  me,  Mr. 
Grimes.  Can  you  put  in  another  ?  " 
"  Won't  you  please  look  at  our 
warts  right  off  ?  We  're  in  a  hurry, 
for  we  are  all  going  to  (  Turner's 
Circus'  this  afternoon."  "Don't 
Al!"  (turning  to  one  of  his  com 
panions.)  "Stop  it!"  "Get 
away  !  "  "I  '11  lick  you  if  you  don't  mind  !  "  etc.  These  last  ejacu 
lations  came  from  the  different  boys,  who  were  "pushing  and  haul 
ing,"  each  other ;  thus  expending  their  surplus  energy.  All  this  time 
good  Old  Mr.  Grimes  stood  with  his  arms  akimbo,  and  a  pleased  ex 
pression  on  his  "  topy,"  saw-dusty  face,  waiting  patiently  until  all  the 
questions  were  in,  before  he  answered. 

"  I  reckon  I  '11  cure  your  warts,  if  ye  '11  all  jes'  set  down  in  a  row  on 
that  'ar  horse,  an'  keep  quiet,  an'  le'  me  count  'em."  Instantly  the 
whole  company  became  still.  As  many  as  could  seated  themselves  in 
a  line  on  the  wooden  horse  pointed  out  by  the  wart-killer.  The  rest 
found  anchorage  on  some  boards  which  were  piled  up  near  by.  By 


WARTS.     «FUS'  KEEPS."  37 

direction  of  Mr.  Grimes,  they  all  held  up  their  hands,  and  in  this  posi 
tion  they  awaited  his  coming.  The  old  man  took  a  piece  of  chalk 
from  among  the  spiders'  webs  on  the  window  sash,  and  approached 
his  expectant  patients.  He  solemnly  counted  the  warts  on  every  boy's 
hand ;  touching  each  one  with  the  chalk.  Then  he  disappeared  be 
hind  the  old  chimney-back  where  he  seemed  to  register  the  name  of 
the  boy,  and  the  number  of  warts  belonging  to  each.  Not  a  word 
was  spoken  during  the  solemn  proceeding,  which  lasted  some  minutes. 
Then  the  venerable  wart-healer  said,  "  Come  back  in  five  weeks  an'  le' 
me  look  at  your  hands.  That 's  all." 

He  opened  the  little  half  door  of  his  shop,  and  out  dashed  the  boys, 
first  dropping  into  the  old  man's  palm  their  wart  money.  Each  boy 
was  fully  convinced  that  a  cure  had  been  effected,  and  that  his  warts 
would  certainly  go  away. 

The  curious  thing  about  it  was  that  before  the  five  weeks  were 
over,  Dick  Reydon  inspected  his  hands  one  morning  to  count  his 
warts,  when  lo  !  and  behold !  they  had  actually  gone,  departed,  fled 
to  the  land  of  toad-stools  and  skunk-cabbage.  This  strange,  but  true 
result  was  sure  to  happen  whenever  Old  Mr.  Grimes  chalked  the  boy's 
warts,  and  registered  their  number  on  the  ancient  chimney-back  in  his 
shop  on  Friendship  Street. 

The  warts  were  cured  none  too  soon,  for  the  time  for  the  "  singing 
of  birds  had  come,"  and  the  time  for  playing  of  marbles,  too. 

Dick  Reydon  had  just  reached  his  fourteenth  year,  and  his  eye  was 
as  bright  as  a  star,  and  his  limbs  as  lithe  as  a  young  elm.  His  full 
blue  eye  shot  out  intelligence,  while  his  Grecian  features  and  firm  chin 
betokened  self-reliance  and  manly  courage.  Pizarro,  his  sable  friend, 
had  been  growing  all  this  time,  too.  His  height  was  fully  equal  to 
that  of  his  young  master's.  His  limbs  and  small  head  were  models  of 


38 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


ebony  beauty ;  while  his  teeth  and  jovial  countenance  were  pleasures 
to  behold.  Living  as  he  did,  in  close  companionship  with  Dick  Rey- 
don  and  his  friends,  Joshua  and  Amanda  felt  a  conscious  pride  in 
having  their  son  dress  and  behave  as  became  that  position.  The  con 
trast  between  Dick's  blonde  hair  and  blue  eyes,  and  Pizarro's  sable 
complexion  and  crisp  locks,  was  well  marked  as  they  came  down  the 
street  every  day  together.  Both  Dick  and  Peez  were  adepts  at  mar 
bles,  but  Dick  was  the  better  man  of  the  two. 

There  was  a  certain  curve  and  jerk  which  he  gave  to  his  arm,  as  his 
"  bounder  "  shot  out  from  between  his  forefinger  and  thumb,  which 

4  O  ' 

visibly  impressed  all  the  boys   as   evidence  of  his  superiority.     Still 

there  were  in  the  town  and  among  the 
lower  class  one  or  two  youths  who 
claimed  precedence  as  better  players. 
The  manner  of  holding  a  marble  now 
adays  is  totally  different  from  the  an 
cient  method.  There  was  some  science 
about  it  then,  and  the  game  had  also 
a  phraseology,  peculiarly  its  own.  Both 

science  and  phraseology,  however,  have  now  been  supplanted  by  the 
subtler  mysteries  of  the  "  Great  National  Amusement." 

The  attitude  of  a  proficient  marble-player,  when  about  to  "  shoot " 
from  "  the  mark,"  was  erect,  with  head  slightly  bent  forward,  and 
depressed  towards  the  right  shoulder,  eyes  to  the  front.  His  right 
hand  was  raised  as  high  as  the  eye.  After  chalking  his  thumb  and 
breathing  on  it  once  or  twice  to  make  it  stick,  the  little  white  marble, 
streaked  with  red  (they  used  no  agates  or  glass  monsters  then),  was 
slowly  rolled  up  to  its  first  joint,  by  its  own  action  combined  with 
those  of  the  fore  and  middle  fingers.  Having  been  rolled  up  to  the 


WARTS.     "FUS'   KEEPS." 


39 


top  of  this  joint,  the  wrist  was  then  turned  to  the  right  until  the  palm 
of  the  hand  was  nearly  on  a  plane  with  the  horizon.  At  this  junc 
ture,  the  adept  ran  out  the  tip  of  his  tongue  from 
between  his  lips,  when,  presto  !  the  marble  shot 
forth  on  its  errand  with  the  speed  of  lightning.  It 
struck  the  point  aimed  at  with  unerring  precision, 
and  sent  its  antagonist  flying  in  the  opposite  direc 
tion,  usurping,  at  the  same  moment,  its  position 
near  the  ring.  Nowadays,  boys  obtain  the  largest 
agate  marble  they  can  buy ;  and  by  pinching  it  be 
tween  the  tips  of  finger  and  thumb,  they  manage  to 
pop  it,  or  flop  it,  or  push  it  at  the  marbles  in  the 
ring,  among  which  it  rolls  leisurely,  jostling  from 
position  perhaps  two  or  three  of  the  unfrightened 
enemy. 

There  was  a  great  temptation  in  Dick  Reydon's 
day  to  gamble  in  marbles ;  that  is,  play  a  game  by 
which  dozens  and  scores  of  marbles  were  transferred 
from  one  pocket  to  another  in  "  no  time."  Boys  who  habitually 
played  "  for  keeps,"  were  nothing  more  nor  less  than  little  gamesters, 
and  most  of  the  respectable  fathers  and  mothers  in  Compton  forbade 
their  sons  from  engaging  in  the  game.  "  Fus'  Keeps  "  was  the  bat 
tle-cry  of  the  professional  marble-player,  by  which  he  entrapped  the 
innocent  and  unwary  owner  to  part  with  all  his  store. 

"  Fus'  Keeps,"  translated  into  plain  English,  meant,  "  I  speak  for 
first  fire,  in  a  game  where  all  of  your  marbles  that  I  knock  out  of  the 
ring,  under  the  rules,  belong  to  me."  Having  the  first  fire,  and 
being  almost  sure  to  hit  the  marble  aimed  at,  the  challenger  went  on 
and  on  until  he  had  knocked  all  of  them  from  the  ring.  A  fresh 


40  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

supply  was  put  there  with  the  same  result ;  so  when  some  squeaky 
toned  marble-player  from  a  bevy  of  boys  shrieked  out  "  Fus'  Keeps," 
marked  a  ring  with  one  of  his  marbles,  and  drew  a  line  for  "  the 
mark"  with  the  toe  of  his  boot,  it  meant  serious  business,  and  a 
game  where  one  of  the  parties  was  sure  to  part  with  some  of  his 
property.  On  such  occasions,  where  the  antagonists  were  evenly 
matched,  the  contest  for  the  mastery  was  watched  with  the  keenest 
interest  by  the  rest  of  the  boys  who  were  lookers-on.  They  would 
stand  about  the  two  combatants,  espousing  one  side  or  the  other, 
and  would  volunteer  all  sorts  of  unsolicited  advice  and  decisions  as 
the  play  went  on. 

The  ancient  nomenclature,  which  indicated  the  rules  governing  the 
game,  would  be  entirely  incomprehensible  to  a  modern  marble-player. 
Such  phrases,  for  instance,  as :  — 

"  Noth'in's  now,  no  coaxin's  !  "  "  Firm'  swift  past  the  ring  !  " 
"  Anythin's  !  "  "  No  brush  I  "  "  No  lightnin's  !  "  "  Knuckle  down, 
finger  rooster  !  "  "  Boost !  "  and  such  like,  would  be  just  so  much 
unmeaning  jargon  to  a  school-boy  of  to-day.  But  in  Dick  Reydon's 
time  each  word  was  burdened  with  tremendous  importance,  and  was 
packed  with  the  most  concise  significance.  The  boy  who  was  volu 
ble  enough  to  utter  these  mysterious  sentences  all  at  once  and  be 
fore  his  antagonist,  gained  an  immense  advantage.  A  professional 
"  Fus'  Keeps  "  player  went  among  the  boys,  and  generally  singled 
out  some  poor,  inexperienced  "  Molly  Coddle "  whose  pocket  was 
stuffed  with  a  bag  of  new  marbles,  and  dared  him  to  play.  If  the 
wager  was  accepted,  the  big  bulge  caused  by  the  new  marbles  in  the 
innocent's  pocket  went  down  like  a  bladder  of  wind,  only  to  swell  the 
greasy  bag  of  his  insatiate  foe.  It  was  Dick  Reydon's  fortune  one 
day  to  watch  a  professional  gamester,  of  this  variety,  win  the  whole 


WARTS.     "FUS'   KEEPS.1'  41 

belongings  of  a  poor  little  fellow,  who  was  thus  "  choused  out "  of  all 
his  marble  estate  ;  so  that  tears  stood  in  his  eyes  and  his  lips  trembled 
with  ill-concealed  emotion.  Dick 
determined,  if  possible,  to  avenge 
his  loss ;  and  to  that  end,  just  as 
the  tall  lad  (whose  name  was 
Mike  Taggart)  was  counting- 
over  his  profits  with  a  merry 
twinkle  in  his  bad  eye,  he  ap 
proached  him  and  said  as  rapidly  as  possible,  "  Fus'  Keeps  anythin's  ! " 
Mike  Taggart  looked  up  from  his  arithmetical  calculation,  and, 
seeing  Dick  Reydon  standing  before  him,  scowled  with  latent  hatred. 
Dick  was  what  might  be  called  "  Captain  "  among  the  best  boys  of 
Compton,  while  Mike  was  clearly  a  leader  at  his  end  of  the  town. 

Depending  on  the  chances  that  Dick  would  miss  striking  from  "  the 
mark  "  the  marbles  in  the  ring  at  the  first  fire,  thus  affording  him 
self  another  opportunity  of  adding  to  his  "  pile,"  he  gruffly  consented 
to  play,  and  placed  in  the  ring  his  proportion  of  the  "  put  up."  The 
boys  all  stood  about,  knowing  that  the  tug  of  war  had  come.  They 
watched  with  breathless  anxiety  as  Dick  took  his  position  at  "the 
mark,"  and  went  through  the  various  operations  of  chalking,  and 
breathing  on  his  thumb,  preparatory  to  his  first  and  all-important  fire. 

Out  from  between  his  muscular  fingers  went  the  marble.  Describ 
ing  a  graceful  parabolic  curve  in  the  air,  it  impinged  itself  with  won 
derful  accuracy  upon  the  objective  body  in  the  ring,  sending  it  to  the 
farther  end  of  the  sidewalk,  where  the  game  was  being  played.  Then, 
stooping  down,  he  daintily  handled  his  marble,  and  after  rolling  and 
coaxing  it  about  between  his  finger  and  thumb  for  a  moment,  cleared 
the  ring1  in  the  most  dexterous  manner  of  all  its  contents. 

o 


42  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

Again  and  again  was  this  repeated.  Each  time  Mike's  bad  fortune 
or  inferior  play  making  him  less  accurate  in  his  aim,  and  so  less  likely 
to  succeed.  Losing  his  temper  at  last,  he  poured  into  the  ring  all  the 
contents  of  his  bag,  and  sung  out  in  hoarse  tones,  "  Double  or  quits, 
'dang  ye  !  "  —  prepared  himself  for  the  last  struggle.  Dick's  self  con 
trol  never  forsook  him.  Working  for  a  good  object  as  will  presently 
appear,  he  measured  every  throw  that  he  made  with  great  precision, 
and  had  the  intense  satisfaction  at  last  of  "  clearing  out "  Mike  Tag- 
gart's  greasy  marble-bag,  and  remaining  victor  on  the  field  amid  the 
plaudits  of  the  surrounding  boys.  Taking  the  great  swagging  mass 
which  filled  up  both  his  pockets,  he  approached  the  little  boy  who  had 
been  Taggart's  victim,  emptied  them  into  his  handkerchief,  while  the 
little  fellow  laughed  and  cried  alternately  for  joy. 

Turning  to  Mike  he  said,  "  When  ye  want  to  play  i  Fus'  Keeps ' 
again,  take  one  of  yer  size.  You  knew  he  could  n't  play  worth  a 
cent ! " 

"  Who  are  you,  I  'd  like  to  know  ?  "  cried  the  disappointed  marble- 
player.  "  If  I  don't  git  even  wi'  yer,  then  yer  can  eat  my  head,  yer 
bloody  'risterkrat  yer  !  " 

"  Whenever  you  like,"  said  Dick.  "  I  ain't  'fraid  of  yer."  With 
that  the  boy,  who  it  must  be  observed  was  alone,  amid  a  crowd  of 
Dick  Reydon's  sympathizing  friends,  and  with  no  one  to  support  him, 
reluctantly,  but  prudently,  moved  away.  Mike  Taggart,  if  he  did 
play  "  Fus'  Keeps  "  was  no  coward. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


ROBBING  A  HAWK'S  NEST. 

ITTI  all  our  love  for  boys  we  must  acknowl 
edge  they  are  both  tyrannical  and  cruel,  and 
need  a  good  deal  of  civilizing  before  they 
can  be  utilized  by  society.  This  polishing 
process,  however,  is  gradually  performed. 
The  daily  experience  of  life,  and  the  judi 
cious  admonition  of  level-headed  parents,  are 
the  best  means  of  attaining  this  end.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  is  a  melancholy  fact  that 
a  foolish  pair  of  progenitors  will  ruin  and  have  ruined  some  of  the 
very  best  of  children.  Mistaken  ideas  of  filial  duty,  and  a  delight 
to  exercise  parental  authority,  have  addled  many  an  egg,  which  other 
wise  would  have  produced  a  perfect  chicken. 

The  "  spare  the  rod  "  method  is  a  milk-and-water  way  of  forming 
character.  In  Dick  Reydon's  time,  good  old-fashioned  correction,  ad 
ministered  by  muscular  parents,  was  vastly  more  efficacious  than  all  the 
modern  "  sending  into  corners,"  and  "  appeals  to  the  moral  sense," 
and  "  goings  without  butter."  The  genus  boy  is  a  sagacious  animal. 
He  possesses  a  keen  sense  of  justice,  and  sometimes  knows  better  than 
his  father  does  just  when  he  needs  castigation.  If  he  receives  it 
when  he  deserves  it,  he  feels  the  justice  of  it,  even  amid  his  squirm- 
ings  and  twistings;  but  when  he  gets  it  from  an  irate  or  foolish 


44 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


parent,  who  himself  is  in  the  wrong  instead  of  his  son,  then  the 
punishment  rankles  deep  in  that  boy's  memory.  He  never  quite  for 
gives  his  father.  Therefore,  0  ye  affectionate  parents !  spank  your 
children  well,  only  take  care  that  the  punishment  be  merited  and 
wisely  administered. 

Ephraim  Reydon  was  a  sensible  and  kind-hearted  father,  who  loved 

his  son ;  but  once  in  a  while 
Richard  transgressed  the  laws 
of  order  and  of  right.  On  such 
occasions  he  was  sure  to  receive 
a  good  old-fashioned,  puritan 
ical  thrashing,  which  did  him  a 
"  world  of  good."  The  best  of 
it  was,  that  when  he  grew  to 
man's  estate,  the  memory  of  his 
dear  father  was  pleasant  to  him. 
He  thanked  him  in  his  heart  for 
all  his  kindness,  his  sagacious 
counsel,  and  even  for  these  old- 
time  spankings,  —  never  to  be  forgotten.  He  felt  sure  that  they  had 
been  most  beneficial  in  exorcising  from  his  character  all  selfishness  and 
effeminacy,  and  in  enabling  him  to  fill  the  important  positions  in  life, 
to  which  he  was  providentially  called,  with  manliness  and  integrity. 

The  spring  and  summer  when  Dick  and  Peez  were  in  their  fourteenth 
years  were  memorable  ones.  Into  them  were  crowded  more  fun  and 
adventure,  more  health  and  growth,  than  in  the  whole  thirteen  others 
which  had  gone  before.  It  seemed  as  if  it  were  impossible  for  Dick  to 
keep  still.  When  he  tried  to  walk,  he  ran ;  and  when  he  ran,  he  felt  as 
if  his  legs  were  independently  alive.  They  went  themselves,  and  with- 


ROBBING  A   HAWK'S  NEST. 


45 


out  his  volition.  Like  two  great  levers  of  a  steam-engine,  they  never 
got  weary.  They  seemed  to  be  trying,  of  themselves,  to  straddle  all 
the  fences  and  the  sheds,  and  to  shin  up  all  the  "  Liberty-poles  "  and 
elm-trees  in  the  neighborhood  of  Compton.  It  seemed,  too,  as  if  he 
ran  faster  after  dark  than  before  the  sun  went  down.  For,  as  he  was 
unable  to  see  just  when  his  feet  touched  the  ground,  he  felt  as  if  he 
merely  skimmed  over  the  surface  of  the  earth  like  a  swallow,  —  tip 
ping  here  and  there 
the  ends  of  his  toes, 
to  be  sure  that  the 
green  sward  was  un 
der  him  somewhere, 
and  that  was  all. 

Oh,  that  happy 
epoch  was  indeed 
Life !  the  opposite 
condition  from 
Death!  At  this 
heavenly  period,  the 
lucky  child  bathes  in 
the  living  waters  of 
youth,  which  seem 
eternally  to  flow  on,  but  which,  alas !  are  so  soon  to  be  changed  into 
stagnant  and  unhealthy  pools  by  the  choking  influence  of  Time. 

The  bay  of  Compton  was  very  beautiful.  Opening,  as  it  did,  into 
the  ocean,  which  was  thirty  miles  away,  its  banks  presented  a  mixture 
of  sea-shore  and  wooded  landscape.  The  yellow  sand  bordered  its 
sparkling  blue  waters,  while  within  a  rod  or  so  of  the  shore  grew  tall 
trees  and  heavy  underbrush.  The  green  banks  were  high  and  pre- 


46  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

cipitous,  and  the  view  from  them  seaward  presented  a  moving  pan 
orama  of  white  sails  and  flying  bunting.  Some  old  "  East  Indiaman," 
with  its  new  paint  and  scraped  masts,  could  often  be  seen  among  the 
sail  boats,  ploughing  through  the  rippling  waves,  either  seaward  on  its 
far  journey ;  or  else,  battered  and  tattered,  crawling  back  to  port,  home 
ward  bound. 

A  lively  sea-breeze  blew  every  afternoon  from  the  southwest  with 
refreshing  coolness,  which  rendered  Compton  a  charming  spot  during 
the  whole  summer.  Its  protected  waters  were  the  rendezvous  of  nu 
merous  sea-fowl,  such  as  wild  duck  and  geese,  together  with  the  coot 
and  brant.  Sea-gulls  and  fish-hawks  were  there,  as  a  matter  of  course. 
They  lazily  careened  or  floated  in  mid-air,  and  went  through  their 
various  evolutions  of  diving,  and  fluttering  up  again  with  their  prey 
in  their  talons.  Fish-hawks  especially  built  their  nests  in  the  tall  oaks 
and  pines  which  bordered  the  bay.  From  these  eyried  homes  they 
sallied  forth  in  search  of  food. 

It  was  an  act  to  boast  of,  if  any  Compton  boy  could  exhibit  a 
fish-hawk  egg,  as  a  trophy  of  his  audacity  in  assailing  the  nest  of 
this  plucky  bird  during  the  period  of  incubation. 

Robins'  eggs,  plovers'  eggs,  and  bobolinks'  eggs,  were  all  common 
enough,  and  easily  enough  obtained  in  Compton,  but  a  brown  streaked 
and  spattered  specimen  from  a  fish-hawk's  nest  was  seldom  seen  except 
in  the  possession  of  the  most  daring  of  the  youthful  population. 

In  a  wooded  pasture,  situated  on  a  high  bluff,  overlooking  Compton 
Bay,  were  several  dead  pine-trees,  where  fish-hawks  had  regularly  built 
their  nests  for  many  years.  Here  they  reared  their  little  families  with 
out  fear  of  molestation,  except  that  which  might  arise  from  the  assaults 
of  their  fiercest  enemy,  —  man.  Even  this  fear  was  a  very  slight  one, 
as  nothing  but  wanton  cruelty  could  warrant  such  molestation.  It 


ROBBING  A    HAWK'S  NEST. 


47 


was  reserved,  however,  for  a  pack  of  thoughtless,  giddy  boys  to 
invade  their  ancient  domain,  and  threaten  destruction  to  their  happy 
homes. 

Prowling  around  the  fields 
during  school  -  hours,  and 
while  Dick  and  his  associates 

r 

were  learning  their  lessons, 
the  black  eye  of  Pizarro  Fitts 
caught  sight  of  two  large 
nests  in  the  tops  of  a  couple 
of  lordly  pines,  in  the 
wooded  pasture  above  re 
ferred  to.  Crouched  behind 
a  stone  wall,  he  watched  tha 
male  bird  as  he  came  wheel 
ing  in  from  the  ocean,  bring 
ing  to  his  sitting  mate  her 
breakfast  of  fish.  He  noticed 
how  the  great  nest  was  built.  That  it  must  be  three  or  four  feet  in 
diameter,  and  was  composed  of  sea-weed,  grasses,  and  large  sticks. 
There  sat  the  patient  and  prospective  mother  over  her  eggs,  while  she 
accepted  with  affectionate  grace  the  dainty  morsel  of  mackerel  or  tau- 
tog  gallantly  offered  to  her.  Now  Peez  Fitts  didn't  intend  to  be 
cruel.  Such  a  thought  never  occurred  to  him.  His  whole  attention 
was  occupied  with  the  wild  delight,  —  the  rare  amount  of  fun,  which 
would  result  from  a  daring  attempt  to  climb  those  trees  and  secure  the 
coveted  eggs. 

Filled  with  this  thought,  he  ran  almost  the  whole  way  home,  and  im 
patiently  waited  near  the  puddle  under  Miss  Kamlin's  gate  for  the  mo- 


48  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

ment  when  the  morning  session  should  be  over.  It  took  but  little  time 
to  communicate  to  his  associates  his  new  project.  They  all  entered 
into  it  with  the  greatest  zest,  and  forthwith  appointed  the  next  Satur 
day  morning  as  the  time  when  the  attack  should  be  made.  It  may  well 
be  supposed  that  the  boys  had  sundry  misgivings  regarding  the  possi 
ble  result  of  this  somewhat  hazardous  enterprise.  Robbing  a  hawk's 
nest  was  no  easy  matter,  so  that  the  excitement  and  exhilaration  exhib 
ited  on  the  countenances  of  this  youthful  band  of  robbers  was  very 
natural.  The  long  line  of  boys  coming  through  the  fields  could  have 
been  perceived  by  an  enemy  a  good  way  off.  The  heads  of  the  boys 
first  appeared,  as  one  by  one  they  surmounted  the  stone  walls.  Then 
the  whole  company  would  be  nearly  hidden  amid  the  bushes  and  rocks 
of  an  intervening  pasture.  Again  the  heads  would  pop  up  above  a 
still  nearer  line  of  fence ;  each  moment  becoming  larger  and  more 
distinct,  until  their  suppressed  voices  could  be  heard,  and  their  breath 
ings  perceived  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  peaceful  residence  of 
the  hawks.  A  halt  was  now  ordered,  and  a  conference  held  as  to  the 
best  method  of  procedure.  A  reconnoissance  in  force  developed  the 
fact  of  a  small  grove  of  oaks,  in  the  midst  of  which  stood  two  tall, 
lifeless  pine-trees,  whose  gray  and  gnarled  arms  stuck  out  in  all  direc 
tions.  On  the  very  tops  of  these  were  the  hawks'  nests.  They  were 
very  capacious  ones  ;  sufficiently  large  to  accommodate  a  numerous 
progeny.  In  one  of  these  the  parent  bird  sat  in  fancied  security, 
patiently  awaiting  the  day  when  her  children  should  appear,  while  her 
mate  had  gone  to  sea  for  her  dinner.  3  This  seemed  the  propitious 
moment  to  make  the  assault.  After  much  talking,  and  fifty  different 
propositions,  it  was  finally  decided  that  Peez  should  be  the  attacking 
party ;  in  fact,  that  he  should  climb  the  tree  and  thus  secure  for  him 
self  the  whole  glory  of  the  enterprise.  This  decision  was  not  because 


ROBBING   A    HAWK'S  NEST.  49 

the  others  were  reluctant  to  go ;  indeed,  both  Dick  and  Pete  Smart 
could  hardly  be  restrained  from  immediately  commencing  the  ascent 
of  the  tree ;  but  Peez  insisted  that  being  black,  the  birds  could  n't 
see  him  as  plainly  as  they  could  the  others.  He  took  off  his  shoes  (it 
must  be  confessed  that  in  the  summer  Amanda  did  not  insist  upon 
stockings  for  her  son),  —  he  took  off  his  shoes  and  his  jacket ;  tied  a 
handkerchief  over  his  face,  leaving  sufficient  space  only  for  breath  and 
eyesight.  Then,  between  his  teeth  he  put  a  short  thick  stick,  to  defend 
himself  from  any  possible  attack  of  the  birds,  and  prepared  to  mount. 
The  boys  stood  in  close  proximity  to  the  dead  tree,  suffering  the  great 
est  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  result  of  the  undertaking.  "  Look  out 
for  the  old  birds,  Peez !  "  cried  Dick,  in  a  whisper.  "  Give  them  fits, 
Peez,  if  they  come  too  near !  "  cried  Pete,  sotto  voce.  "  We  '11  be 
ready  with  sticks  and  stones  to  drive  them  away,  Peez,"  added  Eben 
Tucker. 

"  Never  you  min' !  "  rejoined  the  stout-hearted  Peez.  "  I  gets  de 
eggs  I  does  —  an'  ef  Massa  Hawk  segatiates,  I  '11  jes'  offer  him  a  piece 
of  dis  yere  hickory.  Min' ! "  he  added,  "  I  goes  for  de  eggs  an'  de 
eggs  I  git.  Aunt  Hawk  an'  Uncle  Hawk  to  de  contrary,  notwid- 
standin'."  Almost  before  one  could  think,  the  gallant  Peez  had 
shinned  a  good  portion  of  his  way  up  the  tree,  —  while  the  boys  stood 
all  aghast,  with  sticks  and  stones,  prepared  to  drive  away  any  intrud 
ers.  As  the  black  boy  gradually  reached  the  end  of  his  ascent,  the 
bird  on  the  nest  perceived  his  approach,  and  at  once  gave  forth  sev 
eral  unearthly  shrieks  of  terror,  which  reverberated  through  the  air, 
and  floated  outward  over  the  bay,  in  the  direction  of  her  absent  mate. 
"  Come  back !  come  back,  my  love  ! "  it  seemed  to  lament.  "  Come 
back,  and  protect  your  home  from  sacrilege,  your  little  ones  from  de 
struction  !  "  There  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  for  Peez  had  now  reached 

4 


50  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

a  point  where  his  head  was  on  a  level  with  the  nest.  As  it  appeared 
above  this  plane,  the  old  bird,  with  a  scream  of  despair,  with  flashing 
eyes  and  erected  crest,  flew  at  the  boy  with  all  fury,  striking  at  him 
with  its  beak  and  talons.  Peez  plied  his  hickory  stick  with  effective 
force,  and  managed  not  only  to  beat  her  off  her  roost,  but  to  seize  two 
eggs  in  his  left  hand  ;  and  then  to  prepare  himself  for  a  hasty  retreat. 
Again  the  mother  bird  flew  at  the  boy,  inflicting  upon  his  hand  a 
wound,  which  drew  the  blood,  compelling  him  still  quicker  to  hasten 
his  departure.  A  wild  scream  of  despair  in  the  air  now  warned  him 
that  the  male  bird  had  heard  the  cry  of  distress,  and  was  hastening 
back  to  defend  his  wife  and  his  children.  Quicker  than  thought,  both 
birds  were  upon  him  with  beak  and  talons.  Peez  plied  his  stick  right 
and  left,  whanging  them  both  with  many  well-directed  blows,  until  he 
drove  them  off  to  a  neighboring  tree.  All  this  while  the  boys  below 

* 

were  in  a  great  pitch  of  excitement.  They  threw  stones  and  sticks  at 
the  frenzied  birds.  They  shouted  and  leaped  about,  doing  all  in  their 
power  to  aid  their  friend.  "  Come  down,  Peez  !  "  "  No  matter  'bout 
the  old  eggs  !  "  "Comedown!"  "  They  '11  kill  you."  "'  T  ain't  worth 
it ! "  was  echoed  on  all  sides,  while  the  valiant  black  boy  slowly  re 
treated  from  his  risky  position.  This  movement  was  both  awkward 
and  dangerous,  encumbered  as  he  was  by  the  eggs  in  one  hand,  and 
his  club  in  the  other.  Suddenly  he  was  seen  to  slip  and  fall.  "  Heav 
ens  !  Peez  's  fallen !  "  was  the  shout  which  arose  from  a  chorus  of 
boys.  "Oh  dear!"  "What!"  "No!"  "Yes!"  " There  he  is,  f Al 
lows  !  "  "  He  's  caught !  By  George  !  He 's  caught !  —  by  —  what 
luck  !  — by  the  seat  of  his  trousers,  on  that  lower  limb  !  "  "  See  him 
swing  'round  and  'round  !  "  "  Goody  gracious  !  "  "  What  shall  we 
do  ?  "  "  How  shall  we  ever  get  him  down  ?  " 

Sure  enough.     Poor  Peez  had  lost  his  hold  and  had  fallen  some  ten 


ROBBING   A    HAWK'S  NEST. 


51 


feet  below  the  nest,  but  had  "  brought  up  "  on  the  point  of  a  stout, 
lifeless  limb  !  There  he  swung  by  that  portion  of  his  ample  panta 
loons,  which  no  pair  of  pantaloons  can  do  without.  His  situation 
was  both  ridiculous  and  dangerous.  He  was  suspended  in  mid-air 
(some  thirty  feet  from  the  ground),  and  in  such  a  manner  that  he 
could  neither  recover  himself  by  hands  or  feet ;  and  should  he  fall, 
he  would  certainly  be  fatally  injured.  The  infuriated  birds,  too, 
would  wheel  about  him 
from  their  neighboring 
perch,  and  strike  at  him 
from  time  to  time.  Peez's 
presence  of  mind,  how- 
ever,  never  forsook  him. 
He  belabored  the  fiery 
creatures  whenever  they 
dared  to  approach  him, 
and  he  still  managed  to 
keep  a  firm  hold  upon 
his  two  ugly  brown  eggs, 
which  had  cost  him  so 
much  trouble  to  obtain. 
The  boys  were  now  in 
great  perplexity  as  to  what 
could  be  done  to  relieve 
their  plucky  companion  from  his  distressing  and  awkward  position. 
Dick  Reydon,  as  captain,  was  at  his  "wits' end"  to  decide  upon  his 
best  course  of  action.  A  sudden  thought  seemed  to  strike  him. 
"  Hold  on,  Peez,  my  boy  !  Hold  on  !  "  he  cried  (just  as  if  Peez  could 
hold  on,  hanging  as  he  was,  like  a  lantern  in  the  wind).  "  Hold  on 


52 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


till  I  come  back  !  I  won't  be  gone  a  minute ! "  Off  Dick  scam 
pered  to  a  stranded  boat,  which  he  espied  moored  to  the  shore  (the 
tide  being  out).  He  unshipped  the  line  in  a  twinkling,  and  came 
rushing  back  with  an  air  of  triumph  glancing  from  his  blue  eye. 

"  I '  ve  got  it  now,  Peez ! " 
just  keep  quiet  till  I  make 
a  noose  in  this  rope !  Then 
I  '11  climb  that  oak  there, 
and  throw  the  line  over 
that  stout  branch,  and 
then  if  you  can  catch  hold 
of  the  noose  and  slip  it 
round  your  body,  we  '11 
have  you  off  that  nasty 
point  in  a  jiffy."  With 
that  Dick  Reydon  climbed 

the  oak,  holding  the  line 

^         ° 

between  his  teeth.  Reach 
ing  the  big  limb,  some 
feet  above  the  point  on 
the  pine-tree  where  Peez 
hung,  he  threw  it  over  to 
the  ground.  The  boys 
thereupon  seized  it,  and 
after  several  attempts  suc 
ceeded  in  enabling  Peez 
to  catch  it,  and  slip  the 
noose  under  his  shoulders  and  about  his  waist.  "  Now  wait  a  bit,  till 
I  get  down  ! "  cried  Dick,  and  glided  along  the  trunk  of  the  oak  on 


ROBBING  A   HAWK'S  NEST.  53 

his  downward  journey.  "  Wait  a  bit !  There  now !  When  Peez  is 
ready,  we  '11  just  hoist  the  fellow  off  that  wooden  peg,  and  let  him 
down !  " 

"Ready,  Peez?" 

"  I  'se  ready,"  replied  a  voice  far  up  the  height. 

"  Heave  0  !  "  cried  the  boys.  "  There  she  moves  !  Steady  !  Steady, 
fellows  !  He  's  off  !  He  's  off  !  Now  let  him  down  gently  !  Gently  ! 
There  !  There  !  " 

"  Hurrah  !  Hurrah  !  Hurrah  !  "  were  the  shouts  which  greeted 
Peez  Fitts  as  he  once  more  stood  on  terra  firma  with  the  two  unbroken 
eggs  in  his  hand,  and  a  very  large  rent  in  the  seat  of  his  pantaloons. 

"  Are  ye  hurt  much  ?  "  cried  the  boys. 

"  Not  much  !  "  said  Peez.  "  But  I  reckon  I  can't  set  down  for  a 
week ;  but  that 's  nothin.'  I  'se  got  de  eggs !  I  went  fer  de  eggs, 
an'  I  got  de  eggs  !  No  matter  for  de  hole.  I  won't  catch  cold." 
Peez  Fitts'  exploit  with  the  fish-hawks  made  him  a  hero  in  Compton, 
and  beloved  by  all  the  boys. 


CHAPTER  V. 

FISHING. 

HE  headings  of  this  and  the  following 
chapter  suggest  two  amusements  which 
occupied  a  large  portion  of  the  leisure 
time  of  a  school-boy,  fifty  years  ago. 
The  youth  of  the  present  day  are  apt 
to  go  into  their  homes  after  school- 
hours,  put  on  their  slippers,  and  read. 
This  is  a  very  commendable  proceed 
ing,  but  fifty  years  ago  they  did  n't  do  so.  Instead  of  it  they  fished, 
and  ran,  and  fought  each  other,  until  their  cheeks  were  like  rubies, 
their  muscles  like  iron,  and  their  pluck  indomitable.  Red  cheeks, 
tough  sinews,  and  undaunted  courage  are  three  good  qualities,  and  the 
youth  in  Ihose  days  had  them  to  perfection.  Besides,  these  elements 
of  vigor  made  up  somewhat  for  the  absence  of  the  "  Rollo  Books,"  and 
the  "  Zigzag  Journeys,"  and  the  almost  numberless  and  valuable  works 


FISHING.  55 

of  adventure  which  now  fill  our  juvenile  libraries.  To  be  sure,  they 
had  "  The  Boy's  Own  Book,"  "  The  French  Cabin  Boy,"  "  Robinson 
Crusoe  ;  "  together  with  the  wonderful  adventures  of  "  Gulliver  "  and 
"  Baron  Munchausen,"  but  these  bore  no  comparison  to  the  flood  of 
literature  written  expressly  for  the  young,  which  surrounds  the  boy  of 
the  period,  and  fills  up  most  of  his  attention  after  school-hours.  The 
boy  of  fifty  years  ago  was  perhaps  not  so  precocious  as  his  modern 
brother,  but  he  was  quite  as  able-bodied.  His  brain  was  sufficiently 
stimulated,  however,  to  devise  means  of  wearing  out  his  trousers,  and 
trying  the  patience  of  all  his  friends  and  neighbors.  Friday  night, 
after  school,  was  the  preparatory  time  for  the  coming  fishing  on  Sat 
urday.  Worms  must  be  dug,  the  tackle  unkinked,  the  bob  and  sink 
ers  inspected.  Shot,  cut  half  in  two,  were  to  be  jammed  by  the  teeth 
on  the  line,  and  the  exact  required  length  of  the  same,  from  the  bob 
to  the  hook,  was  to  be  determined  by  hot  argument.  These  were 
unique  discussions,  where  all  the  boys  talked  at  once,  but  when, 
strange  to  say,  every  boy  heard  everything  every  other  boy  had  to 
say. 

Among  fishermen,  jointed  fishing-poles  were  seldom  used.  They 
were  the  exception,  and  not  the  rule,  as  nowadays.  To  be  sure, 
Dick's  uncle  had  one  he  brought  over  from  England,  and  Pete  Smart's 
father  also  owned  another  which  he  kept  in  his  closet.  Generally, 
however,  the  Compton  boy  of  fifty  years  ago  fished  with  a  bamboo  pole 
bought  down  at  John  V.  James'  store.  This  gentleman  was  the  pow 
der,  shot,  and  vinegar  man,  who  kept  a  little  shop  on  "  Long  Wharf." 
These  poles  stood  stacked  up  at  the  end  of  a  dark  narrow  alley  be 
tween. two  houses  in  the  rear  of  his  shop.  Their  tapering  tops  resem 
bled  the  forest  of  masts  which  was  so  often  seen  at  the  wharves  of 
Compton  Harbor,  when  two  of  Mr.  Reydon's  East  India  ships  arrived 


56 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


among  the  sloops  and  the  schooners  which  usually  lay  in  that  vicinity. 
In  this  dark  bamboo  alley  the  boys  met,  as  it  were,  "  on  ' change. " 
Here  the  whole  piscatorial  question  was  discussed, 
and  the  latest  intelligence  "  on  bait,"  "  fishing 
ground,"  and  "  line  "  talked  over.  "  Bull-pout  " 
and  "  shiner,"  "  pickerel  "  and  "  mumma-chog," 
each  had  its  admirers,  each  its  peculiar  hook. 
Dick  Reydon,  with  Pizarro  Fitts,  Pete  Smart,  and 
Eben  Tucker,  were,  as  usual,  prominent  among 
the  crowd  of  boys  on  these  occasions.  Their 
voices  could  be  heard  above  all  the  rest,  always 
commanding  a  certain  respect,  always  accorded 
a  certain  attention.  These  piscatorial  councils 
were  a  good  deal  like  a  conference  of  blackbirds 
in  a  field  of  grain  where  there  is  an  incessant  din 
of  voices  mixed  with  twittering  and  laughter  j 
and  yet  all  seem  to  understand  each  other. 

The  boys  would  select  from  the  tall  forest  of 
poles,  first  this  and  then  that  one ;  then  change 
again  for  others  as  they  severally  fell  short  either 
in  taper,  flexibility,  or  balance  of  the  required 
standard.  The  purchase  of  this  sort  of  fishing- 
pole  was  a  very  satisfactory  one  to  the  boys,  for 
they  got,  for  once  in  their  lives,  the  whole  worth 
of  the  twenty-five  cents  paid  for  it :  an  actual  quid  pro  quo  for  their 
quarter  of  a  dollar  expended.  With  these  light,  tapering  masts  on 
their  shoulders,  this  brigade  of  bottled  nerves  —  if  I  may  so  denomi 
nate  the  crowd  of  boys  —  left  James'  shop  and  rushed  up  the  princi 
pal  street  of  Compton,  all  out  of  step,  but  all  very  happy.  As  the 


FISHING.  57 

gloaming  set  in,  and  the  stars  came  out,  every  line  had  been  wound 
on  a  piece  of  bamboo,  all  ready  to  be  tied  to  the  top  of  the  pole. 
Every  hook  was  stuck  into  the  cork  float  to  prevent  its  catching  into 
a  fellow's  ear,  his  upper  lip,  or  his  eyelid.  The  worms  were  all  dug, 
and  had  drawn  themselves  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  wet  earth,  in 
which  they  were  deposited,  while  the  boys  themselves  lay  dreaming 
in  their  beds  about  the  "  bites  "  of  the  morrow. 

This  would  be  a  virtuous  world  indeed,  if  everybody  in  it  could  lie 
down  on  Friday  nights  as  the  school-boys  do,  and  like  them  sleep  the 
sleep  of  the  innocent,  and  enjoy  the  waking  of  the  just ;  but,  alas ! 
precisely  that  sort  of  thing  the  world  can't  do,  so  it  turns  and  twists, 
and  dreams  on  its  uneasy  couch,  and  wakes  in  the  morning  jaded  and 
unrefreshed. 

"  Le'  's  go  to  Mashapaug  !  " 

"  Oh,  no  !     Long  Pond 's  the  best !  " 

"  Ho,  Long  Pond,  a  good  deal !  Can't  ketch  anythin'  there  but 
mummies  and  roaches  no  '  bigger  'n  a  minit '." 

"  You  can,  too  !  My  brother  caught  a  '  shiner '  as  long  as  that " 
(measuring  with  his  finger)  "  las'  Saturday,  and  we  had  it  for  break- 
fas'." 

"  One  shiner  for  breakfast !  Whoever  heard  o'  such  a  thin'.  Don't 
believe  it !  " 

"  You  need  n't  then,  but  it 's  so  !  " 

"  Le'  's  see  yer  hook  !  "  (inspecting  the  instrument.)  "  That 's  too 
big  fer  shiners  !  —  that 's  a  perch  hook.  They  'II  bite  at  anythin* 
though  —  shiners  will  "  — 

"Who's  goin'  to  dig   the  bait?" 

"Peez  Fitts." 

"  I  digs  de  bait,"  said  Peez,  "  but  what  time  '11  yer  all  go  ?  " 


58  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

"  Five  o'clock." 

"  Say,  fellers  !     Wake  me  up,  will  yer,  when  yer  go  by  ?  " 

"  All  right !     How  shall  we  do  it  ?     Ring  the  bell  ?  " 

"No!"  said  Peez.  "That'll  wake  mudder  up.  Don't  do  dat ! 
I'll  tell  yer  —  I've  jus'  thought.  I'll  tie  a  string  on  to  my  toe,  an5 
let  it  out  de  winder,  an'  hitch  it  to  de  blind,  an'  when  yer  cum  by? 
yer  can  jes'  pull  it,  —  not  hard  yer  kno'.  It  hurts  like  thunder  to 
pull  hard,  but  jes-s-s,  —  pull  it,  an'  I  '11  wake  up,  an'  cum  down,  an' 
let  yer  all  in,  so  we  won't  wake  up  de  mudder  !  " 

"  Oh,  that 's  splendid,"  said  Pete.  "  Say,  Dick,  Peez 's  goin'  to  tie 
a  string  to  his  toe,  and  hang  it  out  the  window,  and  we  are  going  to 
pull  it  to  wake  him  up  —  as  we  go  by  his  house  !  " 

"  By  George  !  "  said  Dick,  "  that 's  fine  !  Tie  on  anything.  Peez  J 
That  little  stuff,  ye  know,  that  comes  round  bundles,  '11  do." 

"  All  right ! "  said  Peez.  "  But  brin'  somethin'  to  eat,  Massa 
Peter,  will  yer?" 

"  Yes  I  will,  if  Dick  will." 

"  If  Peez  will  fetch  some  of  Amanda's  doughnuts  along,"  replied 
Dick,  "  I  '11  bring  '  greenins  '  and  '  licorish-ball '." 

"  Never  you  min',  I  '11  do  dat  same,  Massa  Dick." 

"  Gosh !  that 's  tasty,"  said  the  little  crowd  in  unison,  at  the  bare 
idea  of  their  to-morrow's  dinner. 

"  All  right,  fellows  !  "  The  squad  flew  in  every  direction,  and  the 
night,  having  nothing  more  to  wait  for,  set  in  in  good  earnest. 

When  Peez  Fitts  reached  his  home  that  Friday  night,  his  head  was 
so  full  of  Saturday's  fishing,  about  the  line,  and  the  pole,  and  the  bait, 
and  the  means  to  be  taken  to  insure  his  being  awakened  at  the  proper 
hour,  that  his  mother  Amanda  was  forced  to  repeat  her  command  two 


FISHING. 


59 


or  three  times  before  he  started  to  go  to  bed.  "  Piazzer,  chile ! " 
said  Amanda.  "  Piazzer,  g'long  to  bed.  Yer  as  yaller  as  a  lily,  an' 
yer  fader  '11  be  feared  y  '11  die  'f  yer  don'  g'long' ;  min'?  I  tell  yer  !  " 
So  Peez  crawled  up  the  unpainted  stairs  and  prepared  to  take  off 
his  garments  for  the  night.  After  waiting  until  Amanda  and  Joshua 
were  fast  asleep,  Peez  poked  about  the  garret  until  he  found  several 
pieces  of  twine,  of  all  sizes  and  colors,  which  he  tied  together,  calcu- 
latino-  the  distance 

O 

from  his  toe  to  the 
lower  blind  of  the 
lower  story  window, 
on  the  outside  of  the 
house.  Then  he  un- 
dressed  himself, 
dropped  the  end  of 
the  twine  out  of  the 
window,  and  carefully 

crawled  into  bed,  dragging  after  him  the  string,  up  through  the  bed 
clothes.  Then  he  tied  it  to  his  big  toe.  The  cord  felt  pretty  tight  at 
first,  and  every  time  he  turned  over,  it  got  somehow  mixed  up  with  his 
other  leg.  Thinking  it  over,  it  occurred  to  him  that  the  lower  end  of 
the  cord  ought  to  be  secured  to  the  blind,  and  not  be  left  floating  about 
in  the  wind,  so  he  determined  to  go  down  stairs  and  "  fix  it."  With  this 
intention  he  untied  his  toe,  and  attached  the  twine  to  the  bed-post ; 
then  stole  quietly  down  to  the  front  door,  unlocked  it  as  silently  as  pos 
sible,  so  as  not  to  disturb  his  mother,  and  went  out  on  the  front  step, 
with  his  little  short  night-shirt  fluttering  in  the  breeze.  In  recounting 
it  afterwards,  Peez  said  he  felt  "  mighty  naked  "  standing  there  in  the 
dead  of  night  feeling  out  in  the  air  after  the  end  of  that  string.  He 


60 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


imagined  every  minute  that  somebody  was  going  to  catch  him  by  the 
legs ;  and  by  the  time  he  had  found  and  secured  the  end  of  the  cord 
to  the  lower  blind,  one  of  his  legs  was  all  twisted  round  the  other 
from  sheer  nervousness,  and  his  eyes  stuck  out  as  "  big  as  saucers." 
He  scampered  up  the  stairs  on  his  cold  toes,  as  nimbly  as  if  a  "  spook  " 

was  after  him,  inserted  his  big  toe  in  the 
loop  of  the  string,  and  lay  down  shivering 
on  his  bed  to  await  the  daylight. 

A  June  sunrise  is  worth  beholding.  At 
half-past  four  o'clock  "  Old  Sol "  pulls  aside 
his  eastern  bed  -  curtains,  and  looks  forth 
upon  the  morning.  You  can  see  his  long 
luminous  arms  reaching  up  to  the  zenith, 
as  he  stretches  himself,  some  time  before  his 
rubicund  visage  is  actually  visible.  In  the 
country  at  that  hour  one  meets  scarcely  any 
thing  but  that  far-famed  "  early  bird  "  after 
that  doomed  "  worm  ;  "  while  in  towns,  the 
milk  carts  are  the  sole  objects  in  the  streets. 
To  be  sure,  on  the  fences,  a  few  motionless,  staring,  yellow-eyed  cats 
look  in  grim  silence  on  the  passer-by  ;  otherwise,  nothing  obstructs  the 
vision  from  top  to  bottom  of  the  street.  Pete  Smart,  Eben  Tucker, 
Al.  Young,  and  Sim.  Brewer  were  all  up  at  twenty-five  minutes  past 
four.  Eben  emerged  from  his  front  door  buttoning  up  his  suspend 
ers,  while  his  neglected  locks  stuck  out  as  if  they  had  suddenly  been 
frightened  from  sleep.  Away  all  the  boys  started  for  Peez's  home, 
which  was  right  on  the  road  to  Mashapaug.  Reydon  had  not  yet 
joined  them,  so  the  others,  led  on  by  Pete,  approached  Peez  's  home, 
and  on  tip-toe  searched  for  the  expected  toe-line.,  "  Guy !  There  's 


FISHING. 


61 


the  string  tied  on  t'  the  blinds,  sure  's  you  're  born,"  cried  Pete,  with 
exultation.  "  Where  ?  Where  ? "  cried  the  others.  "  Keep  still, 
boys  !  "  "  Don  't  pull  till  we  are  all  ready,  and  then  give  it  to  him 
smart !  "  "  Quiet !  Quiet !  "  "  Hold  on  a  minute,  till  I  get  a  good 
hold  !  "  "  Give  us  a  chance,  Eb. !  Don't  take  all  the  string  to  your 
self  !"  "Who's-a-takin'-it?  There!  Is  that  enough?"  "Now! 
One  —  two  —  three  —  pull !  "  Yell  from  upper  story  :  "  H-o-o-old 

on  there  !    Oh  !     Oh  !     0 h  !     Ohh  !     Don't ! !  !     Don't,  d-n't ! 

Stop  it !     Stop  it !     I'm  a-wake  !     Oh-h-h  !  " 

The  twine  gave  way,  or  else  Peez's  toe 
would  have  come  off.  Immediately  after,  a 
black  head  with  staring  eyes  looked  out  of 
the  upper  window.  Tears  were  falling,  and 
yet  the  good-natured  countenance  was  grin 
ning  all  over.  "You  'bout  kilt  me,  fel 
lers  !  My  toe  's  big  as  a  plum  !  and  all  sore 
where  you  pulled  it.  I'll  let  you  in  jes' 
soon  as  I  can  fin'  my  pants.  Goody  !  How 
it  smarts  !  "  The  head  disappeared,  but  soon  the  whole  form  reap 
peared  at  the  door  clothed  and  ready  for  a  start.  "  Gosh,  boys ! 
I  tell  yer,  yer  near  'bout  yanked  my  toe  off !  Which  on  yer  yanked 
twice  ?  I  can't  get  my  boot  on  that  foot,  so  I  've  got  one  slipper, 
an'  t'  other  boot.  Come  on,  I  'se  ready !  "  Dick's  appearance  now 
made  the  party  complete,  and  the  chattering  crowd  immediately  took 
up  its  line  of  march  for  Mashapaug.  Peez  went  limping  along,  but 
carried  on  his  back  three  of  the  fellows'  fishing-poles,  the  worms,  and 
the  basket  of  luncheon. 

The  road  to  Mashapaug  ran  out  over  the  Huxet  Pike,  and  past  an 
old  burying-ground,  which  had  been  in  disuse  for  a  long  tune.     The 


G2 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


fence  separating  the  sacred  spot  from  the  highway  was  broken  down, 
and  the  old  grave-stones  were  standing  up  or  leaning  over  at  all  angles, 
among  the  tall  grass.  Here  and  there,  also,  was  a  tumble-down  tomb, 
whose  iron  door  was  rickety,  and  whose  cavernous  interior  was  not  al 
together  deserted,  —  some  of  its  ghastly  contents  still  remaining  to  tell 
the  mournful  tale  of  a  past  and  neglected  generation.  This  spot  was 
always  "  spooky,"  and  our  valiant  band  of  fishermen  passed  by  it  with 
bated  breath  and  sidelong  glances. 

"  Guy  !     Say  Pete  !     Look  at  that  old  tomb  !     They  say  there  's 
bones  left  in  it !     I  '11  dare  ye  to  go  in  there  !  " 


"  Hold  on ! "  cried  Dick,  "  we  can't  stop  now ;  wait  till  this  after 
noon  when  we  come  back  !  " 

"  I  bet  yer  darsn't  go  in  there  !  " 

"  I  darst  too,"  said  Dick. 

Eben  Tucker  spoke  up  and  said,  "  They  say  there  's  a  skeleton  in 
there  that  jumps  up  every  time  you  touch  it." 

"  I  don't  believe  it ;  who  's  afraid  ?  "  said  Peez. 

By  this  time  the  boys  had  stopped  and  were  conversing  in  a  bunch, 
but  at  a  convenient  distance,  —  let  it  be  said,  —  from  the  door  of  the 
mortuary.  They  suddenly  heard  a  crackling  noise  in  the  direction  of 


FISHING.  63 

the  tomb,  which  made  them  scamper  like  mad ;  and  without  more  ado 
the  whole  procession  started  again  in  the  direction  of  the  pond,  at  a 
"  double  quick."  Oh  the  balm,  the  fragrance,  the  exhilaration  of  an 
early  June  morning !  There  is  nothing  like  it.  The  heavy  night- 
dew  keeps  down  the  dust.  The  sun  is  not  oppressive.  The  light 
morning  zephyr  is  filled  with  life-giving  elixir.  Boys'  legs,  too,  at  that 
time  of  day,  are  like  so  many  india-rubber  balls,  bounding  up  and 
down  with  every  step. 

By  town-breakfast-time  Dick  and  his  companions  had  reached  the 
glassy  brink  of  the  beautiful  pond.  One  could  well  imagine  that  the 
ripple  on  its  surface,  the  cheery  notes  of  the  chick-a-dee-dee,  and  the 
warble  of  the  bobolink  were  offering  to  the  boys  a  hearty  good  morn 
ing. 

Now  and  then  a  kingfisher  would  skim  over  the  bosom  of  the 
water,  using  its  glassy  surface  for  a  mirror,  in  which  to  make  its  morn 
ing  toilet,  while  a  yellow-eyed  turtle  slid  off  the  shady  side  of  a  rock, 
to  acquaint  the  inhabitants  beneath  the  waves  of  the  advent  of  the 
new-comers.  The  poles  were  soon  adjusted,  and  the  company  sepa 
rated,  as  if  by  magic,  each  boy  wandering  away  to  some  favorite  and 
particular  spot  which  he  "  knew  about,"  and  could  be  seen,  perched, 
perhaps,  on  the  top  of  a  distant  stump  overlooking  the  water,  or  seated 
astride  a  rail-fence,  which  cooled  its  posts,  knee-deep,  beneath  the  pel 
lucid  flood.  For  a  time  all  was  quiet.  The  occasional  drip  of  water 
from  the  poles,  the  shout  of  a  boy  as  he  landed  his  fish,  and  the  mew 
of  the  cat-bird  in  a  neighboring  thicket,  were  the  only  sounds  to  break 
the  charmed  silence. 

"  Have  you  caught  any  thin'  ?  "  would  be  echoed,  in  shrill  voice,, 
across  the  pond. 

"  Two  !  "  would  be  echoed  back. 


-64  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

"  What  ?  " 

"  Mummy  < —  and  a  roach  !  " 

"  I  've  had  a  bite  twice ;  took  the  worm  clear  off  my  hook  !  " 

"  That  '&  a  bull-pout  that  does  that." 

"  Gosh  !  hold  on  !  There  's  something  —  some  —  thing  —  on  —  my 
•• —  hook.  See  him,  Peez  ?  See  him  nibble  ?  " 

"  Keep  quiet,  fellers  !     I  '11  have  that  codger  !  " 

"  Ha-a-a — a  !  I  've  got  him  !  A  shiner,  by  thunder,  and  a  big  one 
too.  How  do  yer  take  him  off  ?  " 

"  By  George  !     Ain't  this  fun  ?  " 

"  Look  at  Eb.  over  there,  eatin'  up  the  pie  !  " 

"  Hey  there,  Eb.  Tucker  !     Don't  eat  up  all  our  dinner  !  " 

"  Who 's  eatin'  up  all  yer  dinner  ?  I  jes'  looked  into  the  basket  to 
smell  of  it.  There 's  too  much  salt  in  those  doughnuts  !  " 

"  How  could  you  know  there  's  too  much  salt  in  'em,  if  you  had  n't 
been  eatin'  'em?" 

"  I  jes'  smelt  of  one  of  'em,  an'  a  little  piece  came  off  !  " 

"Yes!  guess  so!"  shouted  a  lot  of  voices.  "Bring  the  basket 
over  here,  an'  let 's  have  a  smell  then !  " 

All  this  time  Dick  Reydon  was  crawling  out  on  the  dead  limb  of  an 
old  fir-tree  which  hung  over  the  water.  He  had  taken  the  precaution 
to  secure,  before  he  went,  a  quantity  of  bait  and  five  or  six  doughnuts. 
With  these  he  felt  entirely  independent  of  the  rest  of  the  party,  and 
threw  his  line  from  right  to  left  without  fear  of  interruption.  The 
bites  were  frequent.  There  were  nibbles  which  only  stirred  the  bob  a 
little,  and  great  jerks  where  the  float  would  go  clear  under,  sending 
the  eddies  widening  and  widening  to  the  farther  shore. 

From  time  to  time  Dick  hauled  from  its  native  element  specimens  of 
the  finny  tribe,  which  at  least  added  to  his  fun,  —  albeit,  they  were 


FISHING. 


65 


the  "  smallest  fry  "  in  the  world.  Suddenly  he  felt  something  uncom 
monly  heavy  at  the  end  of  his  line.  The  float  bobbed  and  wriggled, 
and  then  went  clear  under  and  down  into  the  bottom.  Dick's  face 
flushed  with  excitement.  His  arms  straightened  out,  and  his  eyes  di 
lated  with  expectancy.  He  jerked  the  coveted  prize,  and  drew  out  of 
the  water  —  kicking  and  pawing  the  air  —  a  large  mud-turtle  which 


bent  his  cane  pole  almost  double.  The  sudden  movement,  however, 
was  too  much  for  the  old  fir  limb  on  which  he  sat ;  for,  as  the  turtle 
came  up,  the  branch  went  down,  carrying  poor  Dick  along  with  it  into 
the  water.  There  was  an  immediate  cry  from  all  parts  of  the  pond, 
—  "  Dick 's  in  !  Dick 's  in  ! "  which  was  followed  by  the  nimble  feet 
of  Peez,  who  flew  at  once  to  his  master's  assistance,  followed  by  all 
the  other  boys.  The  water  was  over  Dick's  head,  but  he  retained  his 

5 


66 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


5      ft 


presence  of  mind,  and  being  a  good  swimmer,  kept  his  head  above  the 
surface,  and  immediately  struck  out  for  the  shore.  This  he  reached 
just  as  his  companions  arrived  with  helping  poles  to  aid  in  his  rescue. 
Peez  waded  in  up  to  his  middle,  and  took  from  Dick  his  rod,  which 
he  had  never  relinquished,  and  drew  to  shore  the  sprawling  turtle 
which  now  lay  helpless  on  his  back  endeavoring  in  vain  to  turn  over. 

Dick  was  dripping  wet  from  head  to  foot,  so  there  was  nothing  for 
him  to  do  but  strip  off  his  clothes  and  dry  them  in  the  warm  June 
sun.  This  disrobing  process  was  soon  performed,  and  almost  before 

one  could  turn  about, 
~  [  [  L  Dick  Reydon  was  again 
perched  aloft  on  an 
other  branch  "  in  puris 
naturalibus,"  with  his 
fi  s  h  i  n  g-p  o  1  e  in  one 
hand,  and  the  other  one 
clinging  to  a  stouter 
limb  for  support.  His 
little  shirt  lay  spread 
out  on  the  shore  with 
stones  upon  it  to  keep 
it  from  being  blown 
away.  His  trousers, 
socks,  and  other  gar 
ments  hung  waving  in  the  morning  breeze,  while  he  sat  complacently 
on  his  dangling  seat,  looking  like  a  young  god  among  the  green 
glades  of  Olympus. 

"  Say,  Pete,  don't  Dick  look  like  a  monkey,  perched  up  there  naked 
in  the  trees  ?  " 


FISHING.  67 

"  Yes,  he  does,"  replied  Pete.  "  Hello,  Dick  !  Don't  it  hurt  like 
everything,  sitting  on  that  branch  with  no  trousers  on  ?  Don't  you 
want  my  hat  for  a  cushion  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  Dick.     "  I  'm  sitting  on  a  doughnut !  " 

"  Ha-ha-ha-boys !  Dick  's  sitting  on  a  doughnut  for  a  cushion. 
Ha-ha-ha !  " 

But  it  answered  perfectly  the  purpose  it  was  unexpectedly  put  to, 
and  when  Dick  descended  from  the  tree,  and  got  into  his  dry  clothes 
again,  he  said  to  Peez,  as  he  buttoned  up  his  waistcoat,  "  That  dough 
nut  was  a  mighty  soft  one.  I  'm  blamed  glad  you  brought  'em,  Peez. 
What  did  Amanda  put  in  'em  to  make  'em  so  light  ?  " 

,"  I  spec'  it 's  'east,  Mr.  Richard ;  for  dat  raises  up  de  emptin's  and 
makes  de  tings  springy,"  said  Peez. 

"  It  must  be  !  "  replied  Dick,  for  that  doughnut  was  jus'  like  a 
spring-board  cushion,  soft  as  a  "  griddle-cake." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

BOY  FIGHT. 

i  HEN  the  sun  had  descended  towards  his  west 
ern  home,  the  boys  found  they  had  eaten  up 
their  supply  of  food.  The  number  of  fish  ac 
tually  hooked  bore  no  comparison  with  the 
amount  of  fun  enjoyed  in  hooking  them ;  and 
after  their  main-stay,  namely  their  "  grub" 
had  given  out,  and  the  bait  used  up,  the  whole 
party,  by  common  consent,  prepared  for  their  homeward  journey. 
Some  were  tired  out.  Others  were  cross  ;  while  all  were  commencing 
to  feel  hungry  again.  Peez  got  ready  first,  and  with  bait  basket, 
haversack,  and  two  fishing-poles  on  shoulder,  started  on  ahead  of  the 
rest,  merry  as  a  lark,  —  his  clear  whistle  —  negroes  are  celebrated 
whistlers  —  sounding  in  the  gloaming  like  the  notes  of  a  nightingale. 
By  the  time  he  had  reached  the  confines  of  the  old  cemetery,  he 
concluded  he  would  perch  upon  a  convenient  post,  and  await  the  com 
ing  of  his  companions. 

The  "  shades  of  night  were  falling  fast,"  and  twilight  was  already 
setting  in,  when  Peez  espied  a  ragged-looking  lad  coming  over  a  neigh 
boring  fence,  who  approached  and  accosted  him  rather  roughly,  say 
ing,  "  Whar  yer  goin'  to,  nig  ?  " 

"  I  'se  on  my  way  back  to  town,  paddy.     Never  you  mind  !  " 
"  Say,  eyeballs !  I  stump  yer  to  go  into  that  'ere  tomb  there !  " 


BO Y  FIGHT. 


69 


"  Oh,  g'  'long,  freckles  !     I  ain't  goin'  into  no  tomb." 
"  Ho  !     Yer  doan'  dare  ter  !      I  bet  yer  a  dollar  yer  '  darsn't '  go 
into  it,  an'  tech  the  back,  and  count  five." 

"  Show  us  yer  dollar,"  said  Peez,  throwing 
down  his  poles  and  his  grub-basket.  "  I  ain't 
agoin'  to  be  stumped  !  " 

"  Thar  it  is,"  said  the  boy,  holding  up  some 
thing,  which,  in  the  shadows,  looked  like  the  coin 
at  stake.  So  Peez  prepared  to  earn  his  dollar. 
He  approached  the  old  structure,  pulled  open 
the  great  iron  door,  then  peering  in,  and 
up,  and  around,  to  satisfy  himself 
that  there  was  nothing  to  hurt 
him,  he  went  boldly  in,  and  was 
soon  lost  to  sight.  In  a  little 
while  "  One,  two,  three,  four,  five," 
were  heard,  being  distinctly  counted 
in  the  darkness  beyond.  Just  as 
soon  as  the  boy  on  the  outside 
heard  these  words,  he  swung  the  great  door  back  into  place ;  got  a 
big  stone  and  wedged  it  down  so  that  it  could  not  be  opened,  drove 
two  pegs  in  the  old  hinges  so  that  they  would  not  turn,  and,  with  a 
satanic  grin  on  his  face,  he  scampered  off,  saying  as  he  went,  "  Good 
by,  darkey  !  Hope  yer  '11  have  a  good  night's  rest !  " 

Peez  groped  his  way  gradually  back  again  toward  the  entrance  as 
best  he  could,  stumbling  over  some  dry  bones  which  lay  in  his  path, 
and  bumping  his  head  against  the  low  brick  ceiling  of  this  hideous 
prison-house.  He  shook  the  door  with  all  his  might,  but  it  would 
not  yield.  He  hallooed  until  he  was  hoarse.  He  pounded  with  his 


70  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

fists  until  they  became  bruised  and  lame.  He  then  became  frightened 
lest  his  companions  might  go  home  by  another  route,  and  he  be  left 
all  night,  and,  for  aught  he  knew,  forever,  in  this  charnel-house. 
His  hands  were  so  sore  at  last  that  he  could  pound  no 
longer.  His  voice  was  so  weak  that  the  sound  of  it 
scarcely  reached  the  outside  world.  In  this  helpless 
state  lie  groped  his  way  aimlessly  in  the  darkness. 
Tripping,  at  last,  over  something  in  his  path,  he  picked 
up  what  proved  to  be  the  thigh-bones  of  some  defunct 
and  long  forgotten  citizen  of  Compton.  With  these  he 
thumped  on  the  iron  entrance  with  the  Jittle  strength 
which  still  remained. 

In  the  mean  time  the  rest  of  his  party  were  strag 
gling  slowly  towards  the  town,  taking  it  easy.  Their 
feet  were  heavy  with  fatigue,  and  their  eyelids  with 
drowsiness  ;  so  they  sauntered  along,  while  the  bright 
yellow  sunset  time  gradually  faded  into  the  curfew  hour. 
As  the  foremost  boy  reached  the  confines  of  the 
cemetery,  the  faint  echoes  of  poor  Peez's  thumps  with  the  thigh-bones 
of  the  defunct  citizen  were  heard,  Bang  !  bang  !  Rub-a-dub  !  bang ! 
bang !  which  made  the  boys  stop  and  listen. 

"  Wha'  's  that?  "  said  Pete ;  for  it  was  Pete  Smart  who  headed  the 
procession.  "  Hark,  fellows  !  Wha'  's  that  thumping  ?  Hear  it  ? 
Hear  it?  Guy!  It  comes  from  the  old  tomb,  I  believe!"  With 
that  he  cautiously  approached  the  weird  locality,  now  made  so  famous 
by  the  stories  of  skeletons  and  ghosts.  He  stopped  within  about 
thirty  feet  from  its  entrance  to  listen,  while  the  rest  of  the  boys  filed 
in  the  rear  of  him,  with  staring  eyes  and  open  mouths. 

Bang  !    bang  !     Rub-a-dub  !     Rub-a-dub  !      "  Le'    me  out !      Open 


BOY  FIGHT. 


71 


the  door !  Can't  breathe  !  "  Bang  !  bang !  came  up  from  the  in 
ner  recesses  of  the  haunted  spot,  chilling  the  blood  of  the  whole  fish 
ing-party. 

"  It 's  in  the  tomb  !     Don't  you  hear  ?     I  know  it 's  in  the  tomb  !  " 
said  Pete  in  a  hoarse 
whisper. 

"Who's  there? 
Who  is  it  ?  Is  there 
anybody  in  there  ?  " 

"  Le'  me  out !  It 's 
me,  Peez  Fitts.  I  'm 
shet  in  !  Quick  !  I 
can't  breathe  !  "  Rub 
a-dub  !  Rub-a-dub  ! 
Bang !  bang  !  "  Le' 
me  out,  'mos'  gone !  " 

"Why,  it's    Peez 

Fitts  in  there  ! "  cried  all  the  company.  Then  with  a  shout  and  a 
bound  —  all  ideas  of  ghosts  and  sprites  vanishing  in  an  instant  — 
they  rushed  to  the  grim  iron  entrance  and  tried  to  open  it. 

Dick  was  some  distance  in  the  rear,  but  hearing  the  tumult,  hastened 
to  the  front,  and  now  was  the  foremost  boy,  tugging  at  the  heavy 
stone  which  barred  the  passage.  After  rolling  away  this  impediment, 
they  tried  to  pull  open  the  door,  but  it  would  not  move.  "  Hang  it !  " 
cried  Dick.  "  What 's  the  matter  with  the  old  thing  ?  Hold  on, 
Peez  !  We  '11  let  you  out  in  a  jiffy  !  There 's  something  about  that 
plaguy  hinge.  It  won't  budge !  Tom  !  give  us  a  stone  there  !  I 
see  what 's  the  matter.  Some  chap  has  gone  and  stuck  a  chock  into 
the  hinge  !  There  !  Here  it  comes  !  Out  she  goes !  Open  the  door 
now ! " 


72 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


The  ponderous  iron  shutter  swung  slowly  open,  and  poor  Peez,  with 
a  countenance  of  ashen  whiteness  (if  it  is  a  possible  thing  for  a  black 
boy  to  have),  —  poor  Peez  staggered  out  into  the  twilight  more  dead 
than  alive. 

"Who  shut  you  hi  there  ?  "  inquired  Dick  Reydon,  with  an  expres 
sion  of  vengeance  on  his  fair,  handsome  face. 

"Mike  Taggart," 
replied  Peez.  "  He 
came  over  from  the 
slaughter-houses,  and 
dared  me  to  go  into 
the  tomb  for  a  dol- 
lar;  —  and  —  and 
when  I  got  in,  he 
shet  the  door,"  gasped 
poor  Peez,  leaning  up 
against  the  fence-post 
for  support.  "  I  'd  like  to  catch  Mike  Taggart.  I  'd  wring  his  thun 
dering  neck  for  him." 

"  Jus'  let  me  catch  him !  that 's  all !  "  answered  Dick  with  a  scowl. 
A  hoarse  voice   here    resounded  from  behind  a  neighboring  stone 
wall. 

"  An'  if  it 's  Mike  Taggart  that  ye  want,  yez  kin  hav'  'im,  that 's 
all !  "  and  with  that,  a  tall,  bony,  speckled-faced,  yellow-haired  young 
ster,  the  very  same  lad  who  won  all  the  marbles  away  from  the  little 
"  tommy  coddle,"  jumped  over  the  fence,  and  strode  up  to  the  spot 
where  the  boys  were  collected  together,  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets, 
and  his  hat  tipped  over  his  eye  in  a  very  menacing  style. 

The  language  of  idle  boys  along  the  streets  is  not  always  of  the 


BOY  FIGHT. 


73 


most  refined  nor  select  character,  and  nothing  but  the  duty  imposed 
upon  us  as  a  faithful  biographer  warrants  our  repetition  of  the  bad 
slang  in  which  this  Taggart  boy  indulged.  "  Who  's  the  cus  who 
wants  Mike  Taggart  ?  "  cried  he. 

"  I  'm  the  cus  who  wants  him,"  answered  Dick,  while  his  nostril 
dilated  and  a  sudden  pallor  overspread  his  cheek. 

"  Who  're  ye  lookin'  at  ?  "  said  Mike,  as  Dick  slowly  approached 

linn  with  a  wicked  eye. 

"  Did  }ou  shut  up  Peez  Fitts  in  that 
tomb  there  ?  "  continued  Dick  with  quiv 
ering  lips. 

"  None  of  yer  nasty  business,"  replied 
Mike. 

"  I  '11  make  it  my  nasty  business,  then," 
cried  Dick,  "  and  mighty  quick,  too  !  " 

"  Ye  lay   yer  dirty   finger   on   me,  'f 
ye  dare,  an'  I  '11  smash  yer  ugly  cocoa- 
nut  for  ye,  before  ye  can  wink," 
said  Mike,  rolling  up  his  sleeves 
and  spitting  out  a  quid  of  tobacco, 
with  apparent  coolness. 
"  You  've  near  about  killed  that  darkey  there,"  said  Dick,  taking 
no  notice  of  Mike's  last  remark.     "  That  darkey  is  my  friend,  and 
I  'm  going  to  lick  you  for  it !  " 

"  Come  on  !  ye  blasted  'risterkrat.  I  '11  knock  the  stuffin'  out  on 
ye  with  one  hand  ;  come  on  !  " 

-The  boy  was  plucky,  but  he  met  his  match ;  for  Dick  Reydon  came 
of  that  stock  which  fought  the  Indians,  and  endured  the  privations  of 
New  England  winters,  for  conscience  sake. 


74 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


up 


"  Git  away  from  me,"  said  Mike,  as  Dick  moved  slowly  nearer 
and  nearer  his  antagonist.  "  Git  away,  I  tell  ye.  Dang  ye  !  "  With 
that,  Mike  drew  off  and  struck  Dick  square  on  the  mouth,  which 
puffed  up  his  lip  and  turned  it  purple  in  an  instant.  This  "  opened 

the  ball."    In  both  the  boys  "sailed." 
They  were    pretty  evenly  matched,  for 
what  Mike  lacked  in  height,  he  made 
in  muscle.     They  both  closed  with 
each  other    with    the    ferocity    of 
tigers.      Mike  caught  Dick  by  the 
hair,  and  Dick  caught  Mike  by  the 
cheek  and  ear.      They  pulled  and 
hauled   each    other    about   in   fine 
style.       Dick's  collar  was   torn  off 
of  him.     His  nose  was  skinned  and 
his   upper  lip  was  like   a    cherry ; 
while   Mike's   eye  got  blacked,  his 

nose  was  pounded  like  a  plum-pudding,  and  his  shirt  ripped  up  be- 
hW. 

The  boys  stood  round  the  young  warriors  in  great  excitement,  as 
they  separated  for  a  second  to  catch  breath.  Like  panthers  they 
eyed  each  other,  watching  for .  an  opportunity  to  recommence  the 
fray. 

"Oh!  don't  let  'em  fight!"  "Haul  'em  off!"  "Hang  it! 
Let  'em  fight !  "  "  Mike  Taggart  's  a  bully,  and  Dick  owes  him 
a  licking  !  "  "  No  fair,  kicking  !  "  "  Look  out,  Dick  !  Mike  's 
goin'  to  kick  you."  These,  and  a  host  of  other  ejaculations,  were 
bandied  about  in  the  little  crowd  of  lookers-on,  as  the  battle  recom 
menced. 


BOY  FIGHT. 


75 


Mike  was  all  the  time  muttering  between  his  teeth,  "  Ah,  ye  dirty 
blackguard !  I  '11  dare  ye  to  strike  me  !  I  '11  mark  yer  profile  for 

ye-" 

"  May  be  ye  will !  "  replied  Dick.  "  Take  that,  and  that,  and  THAT  !  " 
as  he  got  in  three  consecutive  blows,  and  then  closed  with  his  oppo 
nent  like  a  young  athlete.  They  tugged  and  swayed  in  each  other's 
gripe.  Their  legs  wound  up  together  like  vines,  in  vain  attempts  to 
throw  each  other  to  the  ground.  Their  trouser-legs  were  pulled  up 
to  their  knees,  while  their  stockings  and  bare  legs  were  blended  to 
gether  in  this  mimic  tug  of  war. 

"  Go  at  him,  Dick  !  "  "  Give  him  ginger  !  "  cried  the  boys.  "  Get 
out  of  the  way,  Peez  !  "  "  Don't  touch  'em  !  "  "  'T  ain't  fair  to  'sist 
either  of  'em  !  " 

While  this  conversation  was  carried  on  by  the  howling  crowd  of 
boys,  the  quick  respiration  of  the  two  fighters  showed  that  their 
strength  was  gradually  giving  out.  They  swayed  to  and  fro  for  an 
instant,  —  then 
they  tottled, 
and  at  last  both 
tumbled  to  the 
ground,  rolling 


over   and    over 

each     other. 

First    one    was 

on  top    of   the 

other,    then    in 

turn  this  one  succumbed  to  a  lucky  movement  of  his  enemy,  only  to 

occupy  his  position. 

At  last  undecided  victory  perched  upon  the  banner  of  Dick  Reydon, 


76 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


who  managed  to  get  his  antagonist  by  the  throat  with  one  hand,  while 
with  the  other  he  was  pommeling  the  freckled  visage  of  Mike  Taggart 
as  rapidly  as  his  departing  strength  would  allow. 

"  Le'  me  up  !  "  gurgled  out  Mike.  "  You  're  chokin'  of  me  !  I  've 
had  enough  !  "  Whereupon  the  boys  pulled  their  panting  companion 
off  from  his  prostrate  foe,  and  assisted  him  in  regaining  his  breath, 
and  rearranging  his  tattered  garments. 

The  plucky  Irish  boy  slowly  arose  from  the  ground,  weeping.  As 
he  left  the  battle-field  he  muttered  between  his  teeth,  "  I  '11  tell  my 
father  o'  you,  Dick  Reydon  !  an'  he  '11  give  ye  the  darnedest  lickin' 
ye  ever  got.  Ye  see  if  he  don't !  " 

Dick  Reydon,  pale  and  trembling,  could  only  ejaculate  in  a  weak 

whisper,  "  I  guess  ye  '11  shut  up 
Peez  Fitts  in  a  tomb  again,  —  will 
ye?" 

By  this  time  Mike  had  gotten  over 
the  fence  by  which  he  came  when 
he  met  Peez  Fitts,  and  which  was  in 
the  direction  of  his  home  by  the 
slaughter-houses.  The  darkness 

o 

soon  shut  him  out  from  view,  and 
the  only  reminder  of  his  recent  pres 
ence  was  a  stone  which  flew  over 
from  the  direction  in  which  he  had 

retreated,  and  which    came    mighty  near    hitting  Pete  Smart    in  the 

head. 

The   excitement  into  which  the  boys  were  thrown   by  this  bloody 

encounter  did  not  subside  until  they  had  all  reached  their  homes,  and 

had  gone  to  their  little  beds.     As  for  Dick  Reydon,  he  was  terribly 


BOY  FIGHT.  77 

shaken  up,  and  it  required  many  days  before  he  regained  his  former 
cheerfulness  ;  and  as  for  his  clothes,  they  were  nearly  torn  off  of  him. 
The  result  of  this  fight  was  that  Mike  Taggart  never  shut  up  Peez 
Fitts  in  the  old  tomb  again,  as  long  as  he  lived. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PAKTY. 


FTER  the  fight,  affairs  jogged  along  for  a 
while  quite  smoothly.  The  boys  attended 
Miss  Kamlin's  school  regularly,  —  a  mixture 
of  study  and  play  giving  them  keen  appe 
tites  and  good  health.  In  those  days,  boys 
went  to  few  "  parties,"  and  to  fewer  public 
festivals,  so  that  the  two  sexes  seldom  mixed 
together,  except  at  school.  Perhaps  this  was 
an  unfortunate  circumstance,  as  every  manly 

youth  needs  tha  benefit  to  be  derived  from  the  society  of  other  boys' 

sisters.     It  teaches  him   not   only  politeness,  but   a  consideration  for 

the  feelings  of  others,  which,  under  different  circumstances,  would  be 

sadly  neglected. 

Boys  are  naturally  so  selfish,  greedy,  and  rough,  that  these  little 

gatherings  are  especially  valuable  in  "  knocking  off  the  corners,"  so 

to  speak,  of  juvenile  brusqueness. 

Dick  was  no  rougher  than  his  companions,  but  it  cannot  be.  denied 

that  he  was  both  boisterous  and  thoughtless,  and  needed  the  refining 

influence  of  the  other  sex  to  keep  him  within  reasonable  bounds. 

One  day  Dick  came  from  school  with  wet  feet,  and  leaving  Peez  in 

the  kitchen,  rushed  up  to  his  own  room  to  change  his  stockings.     His 

mother  stopped  him  in  the  hall  and  said,  — 


LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PARTY. 


79 


"  Dick  !    Here 's  an  invitation  to  a  party  which  has  just  come  !  " 

"  Where  is  it,  mamma  ?  " 

"  The  invitation,  or  the  party  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Reydon,  in  a  quizzical 
tone. 

"  Who  is  it  that  gives  the  party, 
mamma  ?  " 

"  Lucy  Bingham,  dear.  You 
are  invited  for  next  Friday  night, 
at  seven  o'clock." 

"  Well !  I  can't  help  it,  mamma, 
but  I  don't  want  to  go.  I  know 
it 's  to  be  one  of  those  girl  parties. 
I  hate  'em.  You  just  sit  'round 
and  play  kissing-games,  and  then 
go  home,  —  that 's  all.  The  best 
part  of  it  is  the  supper,  —  but  I 
don't  want  to  go,  any  way,  for  they 
never  have  anything  I  like  at  the 
Binghams'." 

"  Now,  Dick,"  replied  his  mother,  "  that 's  all  nonsense.  You  must 
go.  You  need  ladies'  society.  It  gives  every  boy  a  sort  of  polish, 
which  every  boy  requires,  —  especially  when  he  is  growing  up  as  fast 
as  you  are  !  " 

"  What  sort  of  polish,  I  'd  like  to  know,  mamma,  could  I  get  off 
such  girls  as  Isabella  Millbanks  or  Molly  Crane  ?  They  are  as  demure 
as  two  old  cats,  and  only  answer,  *  Yes,  please,'  and  '  No,  please,'  to 
everything  a  fellow  says  to  them." 

"  Don't  rail  against  Isabella  and  Molly,  my  dear  !  for  they  are  charm 
ing,  sweet  girls,  and  their  influence  over  such  great  hobble-de-hoys  as 


80 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


you  are  is  the  very  thing  you  need.  Now,  be  good,  my  love,  and  go 
like  a  gentleman,  — just  as  your  papa  used  to  do  when  he  was  a  boy." 
"  Oh  !  "  said  Dick,  almost  petulantly.  "  Have  I  got  to  talk  to  those 
tabbies  ?  What  on  earth  can  I  say  that  would  interest  such 
things?" 

"  Why,"  replied  his  mother,  smiling,  "  you  must  sit  beside  them 
like  a  gentleman,  and  ask  them  about  their  studies,  and  their  dolls, 
and  their  games ;  and  when  supper  is  announced,  be  polite  and  offer 
your  arm  and  escort  one  of  them  to  the  banquet,  and  help  her  to  all 
the  nice  things  you  think  would  please  her." 

"  Let 's  see  !  girls  don't  like  salads,  do  they,  mamma  ?  "  said  Dick. 
"  Yes.  I  don't  see  why  they  should  n't ;  but  you  must  ask  them 
what  they  prefer,  before  helping  them.  Now,  don't  be  a  footy  !  You 
know,  Richard,  just  what  to  do  ;  so,  g'  'long,  and  be  a  good  boy,  and 
give  your  mamma  a  kiss  before  you  go.  There,"  continued  his 
mother,  still  detaining  him,  "  that 's  lovely !  Here  !  wait !  Let  me  fix 

your  collar.  I  don't  see  what 
you  do  to  get  your  collars  so 
grimy ;  you  must  fairly  roll  in 
the  dirt ! " 

"We  have  dirt  -  fights  of 
course  !  and  that 's  the  reason," 
said  Dick ;  "  an'  't  is  the  best 
fun  !  They  say  dirt 's  healthy, 
and  Peez  and  I  are  trying  the 
perscription  !  " 

"I  suppose  you  mean  pre 
scription,  my  dear !  but  it  comes  pretty  hard  on  poor  Amanda.  She 
nearly  scrubs  her  fingers  off,  getting  your  collars  clean  !  " 


LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PARTY. 


81 


"  Never  you  mind  that,  mamma  !  Amanda  just  likes  the  fun.  Peez 
says  she  sings  every  Monday  morning  while  she 's  washing,  and  lets  him 
have  all  the  doughnuts  he  wants,  if  he  won't  stop  her.  She  just  goes 
right  on  singing  and  singing,  (  Oh,  wash  me  clean,  't  is  what  I  need.' ' 
"  Amanda 's  got  a  lovely  voice,  mamma,"  still  continued  Dick. 
"  Peez  says  it 's  a  high  trible  one.  Why,  mamma,  my  soiled  collars 
just  make  Amanda  perfe'ly  religious ! " 

"  Why,  Richard  Reydon !  You  don't  know  what  you  are  talking 
about !  You  mean  that  Amanda's  singing  seems  to  comfort  her  while 
she  is  washing." 

"  Well,  don't  washing  my  collars  make  her 
sing?  And  don't  her  singing  give  her  com 
fort  ?  And  is  n't  religion  a  comfort  ?  " 

"There,  dear!"  answered  Mrs.  Reydon. 
"  Run  away  and  play ;  you  are  certainly  the 
most  peculiar  child  I  ever  saw." 

Dick's  mother  turned  and  went  into  the 
library,  while  her  boy  rushed  up  to  his  room 
to  change  his  stockings. 

The  evening  of  Lucy  Bingham's  party  was 
very  fine.  The  little  lady  was  gorgeously  at 
tired  in  a  short  cherry-colored  silk  gown,  but 
toned  at  the  back.  A  narrow  satin  sash  of  the  same  color  was  tied 
about  her  waist,  bow  behind.  Her  hair  was  braided  in  two  tails,  a  la 
Ken  wig,  and  tied  at  the  tips  with  narrow  cherry  -  colored  ribbons. 
She  wore  white  starched  pantalets  with  deep  lace  frills  on  the  bottom. 
She  had  on  low  shoes  made  of  morocco.  The  strings  were  crossed, 
sandal  fashion,  over  the  instep,  and  then  crossed  again  around  the 


82  TWO  COMPTON'BGYS. 

ankle,  to  be  tied  in  front.  This  method  allowed  her  to  exhibit  beau 
tiful  open-work  silk  stockings.  A  handkerchief  was  pinned  at  her 
belt.  Her  neck  and  arms  were  bare,  with  puffed  short  sleeves,  edged 
with  lace.  The  same  material  ornamented  her  high  low-necked  dress. 
She  was  a  pretty  creature,  this  same  Lucy  Bingham  was ;  and  she 
had  a  tall,  older  sister  who  was  mistress  of  ceremonies,  and  directed 
the  festivities  of  the  evening. 

The  candles  and  the  astral  lamps  were  all  lighted.  The  wood  fires 
shot  up  their  merry  sparks,  and  the  supper-table  was  perfect  in  every 
arrangement ;  so  the  party  began  in  merry  earnest  not  many  minutes 
afterwards. 

Dick  Reydon  was  sent  up-stairs  to  dress  as  early  as  six  o'clock.  His 
mother's  maid  assisted  at  his  toilet,  in  laying  out  his  clothes  on  the 
bed  and  persuading  him  to  begin.  She  had  a  lively  time,  combing 
out  his  matted,  curly,  amber  locks,  and  getting  them  into  anything 
like  a  proper  trim  for  the  party.  It  was  as  much  as  she  could  do  to 
command  his  attention  long  enough  from  a  willow  whistle  he»  was 
making  to  stop  and  wash  his  face  and  hands  properly.  And  it  was 
up-hill  work  to  persuade  him  to  thrust  his  clean  white-stockinged  feet 
into  his  Sunday  trousers  while  she  was  brushing  his  best  jacket.  After 
much  labor,  Dick  managed  to  work  his  way  fairly  inside  of  these  ha 
biliments,  and  was  what  he  called  "  buttoned  home."  He  then  pre 
sented  a  smart  and  comely  appearance.  His  new  claret-colored  suit, 
with  its  row  of  brass  buttons  down  the  front  of  his  jacket,  and  a  row 
of  the  same  glittering  spheres  on  each  sleeve,  was  most  imposing.  A 
deep  white  collar  trimmed  with  a  crimped  ruffle  furnished  a  very  proper 
setting  for  his  fair  round  neck  and  face ;  while  his  low  patent-leather 
pumps,  and  the  tip  of  the  whitest  of  handkerchiefs  peeping  out  of  his 
breast-pocket,  gave  him  the  appearance  of  having  just  stepped  from  a 
bandbox.  Dick  was  a  handsome  boy. 


LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PARTY. 


83 


When  he  presented  himself  in  the  library,  his  mother  asked  the 
usual  question  which  all  mothers  ask  their  sons  when  they  are  going 
out  to  parties :  if  he  "  had  a  clean  handkerchief !  "  She  impressed 
upon  him  the  necessity  of  being  a  gentleman,  and  to 
speak  to  Lucy  Bingham's  mother  the  moment  he  en 
tered  the  room.  He  was  to  be  very  polite  to  his  lady 
partner,  whoever  she  might  be,  and  was  not  to  help 
himself  at  supper  until  all  the  young  ladies  were  at 
tended  to. 

With  these  instructions  ringing  in  his  ears  Dick 
Reydon  entered  Mrs.  Bingham's  parlor  and  walked 
straight  up  to  Mrs.  Bingham,  whom  he  accosted  with 
a  simplicity  of  manner  and  an  air  of  good  breed 
ing  "which  did  honor  to  the  home-training  at  Reydon 
House. 

A  girl's  party  is,   in  school  -  boys'   parlance,   "  no 
great  shakes  anyway"  .and  this  one  was  no  exception 
to  the  general  rule.     The  girls  were  all   huddled  up 
together  on  one  side  of  the  room,  while  the  boys  swarmed  like  bees  on 
the  other  side. 

It  required  all  the  talent  which  Lucy  Bingham's  tall  older  sister  pos 
sessed  to  bring  about  any  sort  of  commingling  of  the  sexes.  She  pro 
posed  "  Copenhagen,"  and  "  Button,  button,  who  's  got  the  button  ?  " 
with  scant  success.  The  spark  of  merriment,  for  some  reason,  would 
not  fly  to  the  tinder  of  delight,  and  so  a  profound  silence  reigned 
everywhere.  From  time  to  time  the  boys  giggled  and  snickered  in 
subdued  squeaks  on  their  side,  while  the  girls  in  their  corner  chewed 
the  ends  of  their  handkerchiefs  or  tied  them  into  all  sorts  of  knots, 
and  stuck  out  their  white-stockinged  feet  from  the  big  chairs  into 
which  they  were  all  crammed. 


84 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


Just  at  this  time  one  boy  stole  another  boy's  handkerchief,  where 
upon  the  owner  immediately  seized  the  thief  to  recover  his  property. 
Then  commenced  a  tussle,  which  began  with  smiles,  but  soon  passed 
beyond  the  limits  of  good  nature,  and  assumed  a  bellicose  character. 

The  natural  desire  of  man  is  to  appear  the  hero  in  the  eyes  of  the 
opposite  sex,  and  this  impulse  exhibited  itself  in  this  handkerchief 
encounter.  As  neither  boy  could  afford  to  give  up  to  the  other, 
while  the  girls  were  looking  on,  the  result  was  that  the  theft  of  the 


handkerchief  became  the  signal  for  a  real  scratch  and  hair-pulling  fisti 
cuff.  It  ended  in  one  boy's  collar  being  completely  torn  off,  and  the 
thief  getting  his  face  scratched  finely  before  he  consented  to  surren 
der  the  stolen  "  wiper,"  and  order  could  be  restored. 

"  Come,  boys  !  "  said  Lucy  Bingham's  tall  slim  sister,  "  that 's  not 
pretty!  I  never  heard  of  such  conduct  at  a  party!  You've  made 
Molly  Duckling  cry,  and  want  to  go  home.  Come  now,  we  must 
play  something  !  Get  up  !  Form  a  ring  !  We  're  going  to  have, 
'  Here  I  bake,  and  here  I  brew  ! '  Come  on  !  It 's  a  splendid  game  ! 
You  '11  all  like  it.  Get  up,  Tommy !  Dick  Reydon,  take  Lucy  and 
stand  there;  and  you,  Peter,  go  over  to  the  other  side  with  Molly. 
Now  let 's  begin.  Who  '11  be  '  it '  ?  I  '11  be  <  it '  to  show  you  how." 


LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PARTY.  85 

This  last  frantic  effort  of  the  tall  sister  had  the  desired  effect.  The 
spark  fell  into  the  tinder,  and  the  whole  room  was  ablaze  with  sudden 
merriment. 

"  Here  I  bake,  and  here  I  brew  ; 
Here  I  make  my  wedding  cake  ; 
And  here  I  must  go  through  !  " 

After  repeating  these  familiar  lines,  the  tall  slim  Miss  Bingham  at 
tempted  to  break  the  circle  at  two  or  three  points,  but  at  last,  bearing 
the  weight  of  her  whole  thin  body  on  the  clasped  hands  of  Dick  Rey- 
don  and  Lucy  Bingham,  they  broke,  of  course  ;  whereupon  Richard  re 
ceived  a  chaste  salute  on  the  cheek  from  the  attenuated  sister,  and  took 
her  place  in  the  middle  of  the  circle.  "  Here  I  bake,  and  here  I  brew," 
was  one  of  those  "kissing  games"  which  were  so  distasteful  to  Dick, 
but  finding  himself  "  it  "  in  the  middle  of  the  ring,  he  determined  to 
acquit  himself  as  became  a  Reydon.  Every  little  girl,  fearing  lest  she 
might  be  the  next  unfortunate  one  of  the  company  to  go  in  the  centre, 
blushed  deeply,  as  handsome  Richard's  eye  wandered  over  the  giggling 
circle,  first  on  this  side  and  then  on  that.  A  good  deal  of  a  certain 
kind  of  manoeuvring  had  to  be  gone  through  with  before  he  quite 
made  up  his  mind  where  he  "  must  go  through."  When  at  last  he 
decided,  and  broke  down  the  white-handed  barrier  in  front,  he  was 
forced  to  battle  for  his  kiss  from  Molly  Crane,  who  buried  her  brown 
head  in  her  apron,  and  avoided,  with  feats  of  rarest  agility,  Dick's 
frantic  efforts  to  obtain  the  coveted  prize.  In  some  of  these  encoun 
ters  it  took  an  "  uncommon  smart  "  boy  to  come  off  conqueror. 

The  little  fairies  were  so  dexterously  sinuous  and  so  lithely  evasive, 
that  they  often  wearied  out  the  round-faced  and  good-natured  hobble- 
de-hoy  who  battled  with  them,  and  forced  him  to  give  up  the  trial 
from  sheer  exhaustion.  There  was  one  little  bit  of  a  girl,  however, 


86 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


who  was  always  at  a  disadvantage  in  these  "  kissing  games."  Her 
name  was  Ellen  Shaw.  This  little  creature  had  a  chronic  stiff  neck, 
and  used  always  to  wear  about  it  a  bit  of  flannel,  so  that  when  she  was 
a  member  of  the  circle,  the  boys  found  her  easy  prey ;  as  her  delicate 

cheek,  that  rose  -  tinted  fortress,  was 
chronically  fixed  in  one  position,  and 
could  easily  be  taken  by  an  enemy 
without  recourse  to  strategic  opera 
tions. 

After  this  game  the  thirsty  boys 
must  need  go  out  for  water.  They  had 
long  ago  consumed  all  that  Mrs.  Bing- 
ham's  largest  pitcher  contained,  so 
that  a  "  run  "  was  made  upon  her  well 
in  the  yard.  The  room  was  vacant, 
as  if  by  magic,  while  the  young  males  slaked  their  thirst. 

Next  came  dancing.     As  Dick  stood  up  in  the  quadrille  with  Molly 
Crane  he  was  conscious  that  he  had  nothing  whatever  to  say  to  her, 
It  was  exactly  as  he  had  told  his  mother  it  would  be. 
"  Do  you  like  to  dance,"  said  Richard. 
"  Yes,  please." 
"  Am  I  on  the  right  side  ?  " 
"  Yes,  please." 

"  I  hope  you  won't  be  mad  if  I  forget  the  figures  !  " 
"  I  sha'n't  care." 

Here  the  piano  struck  up  "  First  lady  forward.     Right  hand  across. 
Cross  over.     Balancez." 

Of  course  Dick  immediately  got  himself  and  everybody  else  mixed 
up.     He  gave  his  left  hand  instead  of  his  right,  and  so  found  him- 


LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PARTY. 


87 


self  feeling  out  into  the  air  for  somebody  who  was  n't  there.  Little 
Molly  Crane  blushed  and  smiled  in  a  very  lady  -  like  manner,  and 
quietly  said  to  Dick,  with  the  wisdom  of  a  girl  of  eighteen,  "  Right 
hand,  please  !  Now  turn  me,  not  Maria !  Here  I  am,  please,  'way 
over  here  !  "  as  Richard  held  out  both  hands  to  the  wrong  girl. 
After  the  "  figure  "  was  finished,  and  he  had  safely  reached  his  place 


again,  he  was  in  high  dudgeon  with  himself.  What  piqued  him 
most  was,  that  little  Molly  had  acted  so  much  like  a  lady,  in  spite  of 
all  his  mistakes  and  gaucheries.  The  fact  that  it  was  he  who  had  made 
the  blunders,  and  not  she,  kept  constantly  troubling  him.  But  Dick 
Reydon  was  a  splendid  fellow,  and  his  anger  lasted  only  a  moment. 
He  soon  smiled  and  said,  "  Pray,  forgive  me.  I  'm  such  a  nin',  I 
should  think  you  would  hate  to  dance  with  me  !  " 

"  T  don't  mind  a  bit,"  replied  little  Molly.  "  My  brother  made 
seven  mistakes  once  in  one  figure,  and  I  did  n't  mind  ;  but  when  we 
waltz  together  he  always  steps  on  my  toes,  and  it  hurts  dreadful." 


88  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

"  I  'm  as  awkward  as  an  old  horse,"  answered  Dick. 

"  Why  don't  you  take  lessons  ?  "  asked  Molly.  "  You  hop  too  much." 

"  I  just  hate  dancing,  any  way  !  " 

"  I  just  love  it !  " 

"  Grand  right  and  left ! "  sang  out  the  "  colored  lady "  who  pre 
sided  at  the  piano.  Dick  started  on  the  "  grand  rounds  "  again,  turn 
ing  this  little  creature  when  he  should  have  turned  that  one;  and 
twirling  that  diminutive  fairy  when  he  should  have  gyrated  with  this 
little  elf.  "  It  all  came  to  him,"  however,  before  he  got  back  to  his 
position  and  the  rest  of  the  dance  was  really  quite  jolly.  He  thought 
Molly  Crane  was  the  nicest  girl  he  ever  met,  as  he  escorted  her,  blush 
ing  and  panting,  back  to  her  seat. 

Another  attack  of  thirst  here  seized  upon  the  boys,  and  they  all 
flocked  to  the  poor  water  pitcher  again  for  relief.  The  quantity  of 
cold  fluid  which  twenty  or  thirty  boys  and  girls  can  drink  within  a 
given  number  of  minutes  would  astonish  a  person  unacquainted  with 
the  elastic  qualities  of  the  youthful  stomach. 

No  one  knows  how  long  this  operation  would  have  continued  had 
not  supper  been  announced.  Lucy  Bingham's  elder  slim  sister  was 
becoming  now  quite  weary  with  her  exertions,  in  carrying  out  the 
order  of  exercises  of  her  younger  sister's  party.  She  hailed  this  an 
nouncement  with  delight,  as  being  the  grand  finale  of  the  occasion. 
Some  of  the  youngest  girls  were  by  this  time  getting  tired  out.  The 
smallest  one  of  all  had  already  gone  to  sleep  with  her  thumb  in  her 
mouth,  while  other  larger  ones  were  wan  and  hoarse  from  continual 
exercise  and  uninterrupted  screams.  It  makes  no  difference  how  often 
children  fsed,  they  instantly  become  ravenous  again  —  the  process  of 
digestion,  at  that  age,  is  a  wonderful  gastronomic  accomplishment,  and 
is  performed  like  lightning.  The  little  company  entered  the  supper 


LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PARTY. 


room  half  astonished,  but  yet  delighted  with  the  appetizing  odor  of 
the  good  things  spread  out  before  them. 

Five  girls  squeezed  into  one  chair.  Several  sat  motionless  with 
mouths  open,  waiting,  like  little  birds,  to  be  fed.  The  boys  were  not 
quite  so  shy.  One  in  particular  —  Tommy  Tucker,  the  fat  boy  — 
edged  up  to  the  banquet  with  no  thought  of  helping  any  one  but  him 
self.  He  was  a  very  impolite  boy  ;  and  his  fatness  was  no  excuse  for 
him.  This  youngster,  whom  the  other  boys  called  "  lummux,"  wad 
dled  up  to  the  table  and 
commenced  eating  with 
fearful  rapacity.  It  was  a 
funny  sight  to  look  at  him, 
although  it  was  one  which 
no  well  -  bred  boy  would 
ever  imitate.  He  rested 
his  fat  stomach  up  against 
the  table  -  cloth,  straddled 
his  feet  apart  to  keep  him 
self  steady,  unbuttoned  his 
jacket  so  that  he  could  eat 
more,  and  then  began  to 
fill  his  mouth  with  any 
thing  and  everything  he  could  lay  his  hand  upon.  He  was  built  like 
a  doughnut.  His  short  jacket  and  tight  trousers  showed  all  the 
bulges  and  the  rotundities  of  his  figure,  so  that  if  a  seam  in  his 
jacket  had  given  way,  by  any  chance,  he  would  have  gone  off  like  a 
cracker.  Drops  of  perspiration  stood  upon  his  upper  lip  as  he  made 
way  with  blanc-mange  and  whips,  almonds  and  raisins,  lemonade  and 
cake,  chicken  salad  and  figs. 


90  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

Meanwhile  Dick  Reydon  obeyed  the  instructions  of  his  mother,  and 
behaved  himself  like  a  gentleman.  He  helped  his  fair  companion  to 
what  she  chose  to  take,  and  at  the  end  of  the  banquet  carried  her 
orange  and  her  nuts,  which  were  done  up  in  her  handkerchief,  back 
into  the  drawing-room.  He  knew  that  Peez,  his  faithful  Peez,  must 
be  somewhere  around  011  the  outside  of  the  house,  waiting  for  him. 
He  was  sure  that  this  was  so  because  Peez  always  followed  his  young 
master,  sooner  or  later,  wherever  he  went,  in  order  to  accompany  him 
home. 

Dick  went  furtively  to  Mrs.  Bingham's  front  door,  and  looked  out. 
Sure  enough,  there  was  Peez  perched  up  (as  was  his  custom)  on  a 
neighboring  post,  waiting  for  him  in  the  moonlight. 

"  Peez  !  "  whispered  Dick.     "  Is  that  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Mas'  Dick.     I 's  here ;  don't  ye  see  de  white  of  my  eye  ?  " 

"  Are  n't  you  hungry  ?  Hold  on,  and  I  '11  bring  you  out  some 
thing  ! " 

"  Well !  dis  yere  stone  post  has  given  me  a  sort  of  a-kind-of-a-ap- 
petite,"  replied  Peez. 

Dick  disappeared,  and  going  back  quickly  to  the  supper  table  again, 
he  filled  his  pockets  with  figs  and  raisins,  an  orange  and  a  cake,  and 
flew  back  to  the  front  door.  "  Here,  Peez,  come  —  quick.  Here 's 
something  for  you.  Be  quiet ;  there  —  take  it.  We  '11  be  through  in 
a  minute !  " 

While  Peez  was  pocketing  the  acceptable  feast,  his  great  black  eyes 
were  roaming  about  in  the  moonlight  with  a  strange  fire,  and  the  cor 
ners  of  his  mouth  were  twitching  with  good-natured  mischief. 

"  Say,  Massa  Dick,"  said  Peez,  "  I  've  got  an  ole  cat  out  here,  under 
that  basket,  an'  we  '11  have  some  fun  with  him !  It 's  a  Thomas  cat^ 
an  old  waker.  He 's  dangerous  —  he  is  ;  but  I  've  got  him  !  " 


LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PARTY. 


91 


"  Where  is  he  ?  "  cried  Dick,  smothering  his  laughter  and  peering 
out  of  the  door  with  no  hat  on.  "  Let 's  see  him  !  " 

"  Right  on  the  steps  there,  where  you  is  now.  Look  out  you  don't 
tread  on  de  basket,"  added  Peez  with  a  grin,  as  Dick  trod  cautiously 
about  in  the  semi-darkness,  lest  he  might  do  just  what  Peez  really 
wanted  him  to  do,  namely  :  overset  the  basket  and  let  the  old  cat  out. 

An  unlucky  step  jostled  the  animal's  place  of  imprisonment,  and 
forth  he  sprang  with  an  unearthly  yell,  past  Dick,  through  the  open 
front  door  of  Mrs.  Bing- 
ham's  house,  and  up  the 
front  stairs  to  the  garret. 
At  this  juncture,  Peez 
jumped  off  his  post,  and 
forgetting  that  he  had  no 
invitation,  followed  Dick 
into  the  house,  while  his 
eyes  were  as  big  as  saucers 
and  his  mouth  stretched 
from  ear  to  ear.  Dick 
Reydon  soon  communi 
cated  the  news  to  the  party 
assembled,  that  a  strange 

'  o 

Thomas    cat    had    just 

rushed  up  the  front  stairs.     With  one  great  shout,  all  the  boys  started 

up  after  him,  at  this  announcement. 

"Where's  he  gone?"  «  Which  way  did  he  take?"  "There  he 
is  !  "  "  No  !  that 's  an  old  hat !  "  "  Look  out !  He  's  gone  under 
the  bed  !  "  "  M-e-a-o-o-o-w  !  M-e-a-o-o-w  !  "  "I  hear  him  !  "  "  Look 
out !  He 's  mad  !  He  '11  scratch  yer  eyes  out !  "  The  whole  army 


92 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


IS 


of  boys  with  canes  and  broomsticks,  followed  by  the  trembling  girls, 
raced  from  one  room  to  another,  until  the  hiding-place  of  the  poor 
frightened  animal  was  discovered,  and  he  was  dislodged.  "  There  he 
sang  out  a  dozen  voices ;  "  catch  him  !  catch  him  !  "  Down 

rushed  the  Thomas  cat,  with  tail 
like  a  wire  bottle-washer,  and  eyes 
glaring  like  a  demon's. 

Down   followed  the  boys,  with 
the   noise   of    an  avalanche,  after 
him.     Into  the  drawing-room,  over 
the  centre-table,  under  the  piano, 
up   the    stairs    and    down  again. 
"  There  he  is !  "    «  Get  out !    Get 
out!"    "M-e-a-o-w!    M-e-a-o-w!" 
"  Open  the  front  door."     "  S-c-c-a- 
a-t-t-t,  sc-a-t-t-t-t !  !  !  bang  !  fizz ! 
bang !  "    "  Where  is  he  ?  Where 
is  he  ?  " 

The  excited  company  stood 
paralyzed,  as  the  maddened 
creature  leaped  on  to  Tommy 
Tucker,  the  fat  boy,  scratched 
his  fat  face  in  passing,  and  fled 
like  a  black  shadow  into  the 
open  moonlight. 

The  boys  rested  on  their  canes  and  broomsticks  all  out  of  breath 
with  the  laughter  and  the  exertion,  while  the  girls  were  in  the  wildest 
excitement.  This  incident  was  the  wind-up  to  Lucy  Bingham's  party, 
which  her  tall  slim  sister  thought  was,  perhaps,  the  only  thing  which 
would  ever  have  brought  the  festival  to  an  end. 


LUCY  BINGHAM'S  PARTY.  93 

The  house  was  finally  quiet,  and  in  talking  the  party  over,  Lucy  told 
her  mamma  that  she  thought  even  the  old  cat  had  contributed  to 
make  it  more  of  a  success. 

The  ancient  servant  who  put  away  the  best  china  and  the  silver 
spoons  into  their  appropriate  drawers  remarked  that  he  was  thankful 
to  that  old  Tom  who  scratched  Tommy  Tucker's  face,  and  stopped 
his  eating ;  for  "  otherwise,"  said  he,  "  he  would  have  gone  on  till 
doomsday." 

So  you  see  there  are  many  ways  in  which  a  cat  can  be  made  useful 
in  a  family. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


HAPS  AND  MISHAPS. 

T  is  all  very  well  for  people  to  say  there  is  no 
.truth  in  the  expression,  "  That 's  just  my  luck," 
and  they  give  as  a  reason  for  their  opinion 
that  everything  happens  according  to 
fixed  law  ;  and  therefore  there  is  no  luck 
about  it.  But  as  these  individuals 
can't  prove  the  inviolability  of 
their  assertion,  we  certainly  have 
as  good  a  right  as  they  to  persist 
in  saying  that  there  is  a  good 
deal  of  truth  in  the  remark.  For  instance,  boys  get  up  on  a  certain 
morning,  and  everything  commences  to  go  wrong,  just  as  soon  as  they 
get  out  of  bed ;  and  continues  to  do  so  just  as  long  as  it  wants  to, 
when  suddenly  it  whisks  about  again,  and  commences  to  go  right,  just 
as  if  nothing  unusual  or  disagreeable  had  happened  at  all.  Old  people 
think  that  these  small  contretemps  of  childhood  ought  not  to  trouble 
children,  but  we  can  tell  them  that  it  is  just  these  minor  trials  which 
constitute  the  major  portion  of  child-life  ;  and  so  to  them  they  become 
of  great  importance,  quite  as  much  so  as  many  about  which  grown 
folks  make  so  much  fuss.  Dick  Reydon  had  been  unlucky  in  this  way 
for  a  number  of  days  prior  to  the  first  of  July,  when  this  chapter 
opens.  He  told  Peez  that  everything  happened  "  wrong  end  foremost " 


HAPS  AND  MISHAPS. 


95 


that  week.     In  the  first  place,  every  time  he  arrayed  himself  for  bed 
at  night  he  invariably  got  his  night-gown  on  back  side  in  front,  and 

was  forced  to  whirl  the  old  thing  round  to 
its  correct  position  before  he  could  button 
it.  This  happened  so  constantly  that  he 
tried,  with  his  eyes  shut,  to  discover  whether 
it  really  happened  by  chance; 
but  unless  he  was  very  particu 
lar  to  look  before-hand,  he  was 
sure  to  find  the  back  of  his 
collar  under  his  chin,  and  the 
front  button  behind  his  ear. 
Then,  one  day,  he  left  his  knife 
in  his  other  trousers'  pocket,  and  ran 
back  in  a  great  hurry  to  get  it. 
There  the  trousers  hung  on  the 
hook  in  his  closet,  so  he  turned  them 
over,  to  be  certain  that  he  should  put  his  hand  into  the  right  place, 
but,  lo  and  behold  !  when  his  hand  went  in  it  was  the  "  other  "  pocket 
after  all.  "  Of  course,  it 's  the  wrong  one,"  muttered  Dick.  "  It 's  al 
ways  the  other  pocket,  if  a  fellow 's  in  a  hurry  ! "  Added  to  these 
sad  trials,  Dick's  father  had  given  him  a  bright  quarter  of  a  dollar, 
as  a  reward  for  getting  to  the  head  of  his  class.  In  his  delight  he 
amused  himself  in  the  dining-room  by  seeing  how  far  he  could  toss 
his  treasure  in  the  air  and  catch  it.  At  last,  by  an  unlucky  cast,  it 
lodged  in  the  crack  which  always  can  be  found  just  between  the  man 
tel-shelf  and  the  wall,  left  there,  perhaps,  by  the  carpenter,  expressly 
to  hide  quarters  of  dollars  in.  Away  it  tumbled,  down,  down  into  an 
unreachable  spot,  where  neither  poker  nor  yard-stick  could  touch  it. 


96 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


"  Just  my  luck/'  said  Dick,  with  compressed  lips  and  elevated  eye° 
brows.  "  There  's  my  night-gown  and  my  jack-knife,  and  then,  here  Js 
this  plaguy  old  crack  behind  the  mantel-piece.  They've  spoiled  all 
my  fun."  Poor  Dick !  The  truth,  perhaps,  may  have  been  that  he 
himself  was  in  ill -humor,  and  that  all  this  misfortune  did  not  lie 
entirely  in  the  provoking  score  of  chance.  .  We  must  acknowledge, 
however,  that  these  things  are  very  vexatious  to  the  youthful  spirit. 
There  was  one  more  matter  which  must  be  related,  although  it  was  not 
quite  to  Dick  Reydon's  credit.  But  as  it  was  a  portion  of  the  hap 
penings  of  this  unlucky  week,  as  faith 
ful  chroniclers  we  must  not  omit  it. 

The  evening  after  Mrs.  Reydon's 
last  small  party,  Dick  and  Peez  were 
prowling  about  (like  very  bad  boys)  in 
the  best  pantry,  where  all  the  "  good 
things"  left  over  from  dinner  and 
supper  parties  were  always  put  away. 
It  was  quite  dark,  and  the  boys,  con 
scious  of  doing  wrong,  were  afraid  of 
being  detected  in  their  raid,  so  they 
stealthily  entered  the  closet  on  tip-toe.  Peez  immediately  espied  what 
appeared  to  be  a  large  piece  of  blanc-mange,  in  a  saucer  on  the  sec 
ond  shelf.  It  was  just  too  high  for  him  to  reach  unless  he  got  up  on 
a  step-ladder  kept  there  for  the  servants'  use,  in  putting  away  and 
taking  down  Mrs.  Reydon's  Nankin  china. 

The  boys  were  dreadfully  afraid  of  being  caught,  so  they  rushed  up 
the  steps  in  tremendous  haste,  and  crammed  their  mouths  full  of  the 
beautiful  white  substance.  A  loud  noise  in  the  front  hall  just  then 
made  them  swallow  a  considerable  quantity  of  it,  and  scamper  off  out 


HAPS  AND  MISHAPS.  97 

of  the  closet  and  up  the  back  stairs  like  a  couple  of  mice.  An  in 
stant  afterwards  revealed  to  them  the  fact  that  what  they  thought  was 
blanc-mange  was  nothing  but  a  lump  of  rancid  mutton-tallow,  which 
had  gotten  into  this  closet,  and  had  been  left  there  by  some  mistake. 
Such  contortions  and  grimaces  which  then  commenced  never  were  seen 
before.  Their  mouths  were  full  of  the  dreadful  stuff,  even  their 
back  teeth  being  covered  with  it  half  an  inch  thick.  Both  boys 
rushed  to  Dick's  room,  while  their  stomachs  were  turning  over  and 
over  with  deadly  nausea. 

"  Ugh  !  ugh  !  "  groaned  Dick.     "  Peeg  !  —  wer  —  gig  —  ik  ?  " 

"I  —  go  —  go  —  marga  —  Dig  !  "  replied  Peez,  with  his  own  mouth 
as  full  as  his  master's  was. 

"  Ugh  !  "  continued  Dick,  who  by  this  time  had  removed  a  portion 
of  the  tallow — "  tage  —  gyer — figger — Peeg — ang  —  coop  —  ou  — 
my  teeh !  "  opening  his  mouth  at  the  same  time  as  wide  as  a  horse- 
collar.  Peez  poked  his  long  black  finger  in  and  picked  out  what 
remained  of  the  vile  compound,  from  his  great  white  double  teeth. 
"  Don't  say  a  word  about  it,  Peez !  "  said  Dick,  after  he  had  given  his 
teeth  a  good  brushing.  "  Don't  tell  mamma  !  for  she  '11  spank  me 
first,  and  then  laugh  at  me  afterwards." 

Everybody  can  see  that  these  boys  were  very  naughty,  and  that  they 
got  well  punished  for  their  wickedness.  It  was  such  a  good  joke, 
however,  that,  when  it  was  all  over,  both  of  them  sat  down  in  the 
room  with  their  door  shut,  so  that  nobody  could  hear,  and  then 
laughed  and  laughed  over  it,  until  their  mouths  were  all  stretched 
apart,  and  they  were  "  as  weak  as  rats." 

We  must  relate  still  another  misfortune  which  happened  to  Dick 
that  wonderful  week,  and  which  put  the  cap-stone  on  his  ill  luck.  All 
boys  are  forever  "  collecting  "  something.  In  the  present  day  it  is 


98 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


coins  or  stamps.  In  Dick  Reydon's  time  it  was  what  he  called  "  The 
Animals  of  New  England."  His  ideai\was  to  begin  at  the  "  small  end 
and  work  up,"  that  is,  take  the  animals  easiest  to  get  hold  of  first, 

and  gradually  to  increase  his  collection 
by  the  addition  of  the  larger  speci 
mens. 

With  this  idea,  Dick  and  Peez  had 
gotten  together  a  small,  but  interesting 
variety  of  the  "  Animals  of  New  Eng 
land,"  which  was  slowly  being  enlarged 
every  day.  The  menagerie  consisted 
of  one  bat,  one  mole,  a  large  "  night- 
walker,"  or  Easter-worm,  a  flea,  and  a 
sober-looking  mud-turtle. 

Some  people  might  consider  this  a  poor 
collection,  but  we  can  tell  them  that  the 
great  Barnum  himself  had  to  begin. 
His  menagerie  was  n't  born  in  a  day. 
First  he  got  a  tiger  here ;  and  then  a  fat 
woman  there  ;  and  a  mermaid  somewhere 
else.  So  gradually  but  surely  he  col 
lected  what  to-day  is  the  "  greatest  show 
on  earth."  Dick  Reydon  did  n't  know 
anything  about  Barnum,  but  it  seems 
that  he  intuitively  made  use  of  the  same 
method  as  the  great  showman  himself  did  to  form  his  collection  of 
curiosities. 

These  he  put  all  together  in  one  box,  with  holes  bored  in  the  top 
for  the  specimens  to  breathe  through. 


HAPS  AND  MISHAPS. 


99 


The  mole  was  in  a  corner,  in  a  place  fenced  off,  and  called  a 
meadow,  so  that  the  animal,  being  a  meadow-mole,  might  feel  at 
home  there.  The  bat  was  left  to  fly  around  and  around  in  its  fa 
vorite  aimless  manner  to  its  heart's  content,  in  order  that  it  might 
not  feel  homesick. 

The  "  night- walker  "  or  Easter-worm  was  hid  in  a  tin  box,  filled  with 
the  same  earth  in  which  the  animal  was  found,  as  Dick  thought  it 
would  thrive  better  in  its  native  earth.  The  flea,  caught  by  Peez 
from  off  the  coach-dog,  was  wrapped  in  brown  paper  in  company 
with  a  few  canine  hairs  for  the  specimen  to  run  through. 


The  turtle,  tied  by  its  legs,  occupied  a  marsh  of  mud  and  grass  in 
the  farther  corner  of  the  box.  A  painting  of  the  pond  out  of  which 
it  was  taken,  and  hastily  sketched  by  Dick,  was  tacked  up  just  before 
its  eyes,  so  it  could  "  make  believe  "  it  was  in  its  native  element  and 
feel  contented.  Richard  put  bread  in  the  box,  before  the  nose  or  the 
tail  of  the  mole,  for  he  could  n't  tell  which  was  which,  they  looked  so 
much  alike.  Then  bread  was  also  furnished  the  turtle.  It  was  crum 
bled  about  its  marsh  of  mud  and  grass,  and  the  rest  —  quite  a  large 
piece  —  left  on  top  of  its  shell  for  to-morrow.  How  to  feed  the  bat? 
the  flea,  and  the  worm  was  a  puzzler  to  both  Dick  and  Peez.  As  the 
bat  had  never  "  lighted  "  since  they  caught  him,  but  kept  on  whiz 
zing  about,  first  against  this  end  of  the  box,  and  then  bang  against 


100 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


that,  in  a  most  idiotic  manner,  it  seemed  an  impossible  thing  to  ac 
complish.  At  last,  however,  they  decided  that  dust  was  about  as  good 
food  for  bats  as  anything;  so  they  got  handfuls  of  this  stuff  from 
the  barn  chamber,  and  from  time  to  time  threw  it  into  the  box  for 
the  bat's  benefit.  As  to  the  flea  and  the  Easter-worm,  they  left  them 
in  the  care  of  a  merciful  Providence  ;  knowing  how  difficult  it  was  to 
kill  either  specimen  of  these  creatures.  The  box  containing  this  col 
lection  of  the  animals  of  New  England  was  kept  in  the  barn-yard, 

just  at  the  left  of  the 
greenhouse,  and  Dick  and 
Peez  used  to  visit  it  every 
day.  One  afternoon  in 
the  latter  portion  of  this 
unlucky  week,  the  two  pro 
prietors  of  the  menagerie 
approached  the  box  for 
the  daily  inspection.  The 
lid  was  cautiously  opened, 
when  —  presto  —  whiz  — 
out  flew  the  bat,  bang  into 
Peez's  eyes,  —  and  then, 
like  an  ill-omened  thing  that  it  was,  it  sailed  away  out  of  sight  on 
its  black,  ungainly  wings. 

"  By  George  !  "  cried  Dick.  "  There  goes  the  bat !  Catch  him, 
Peez  !  Catch  him  !  Thunder  !  He  's  gone.  Where  's  the  mole  ?  " 
Where  was  the  mole,  to  be  sure  ?  The  mole  had  escaped  from  his 
imitation  meadow,  through  a  crack  in  the  box,  and  was  no  more. 

"  Hang  it.  Now  the  mole  's  gone  !  "  exclaimed  Dick  with  tears  in 
his  eyes.  "  Look  out  for  the  Easty  !  See  if  he  's  in  the  box,  Peez  !  " 


HAPS  AND  MISHAPS.  101 

Peez  looked,  stuck  his  finger  down  in  the  wet  earth.  "  No  Easty 
here,  Massa  Dick  !  " 

"  What !  "  screamed  Dick.  "  No  Easty  there  ?  What 's  got  into 
'em  all  ?  Are  they  all  going  to  leave  us,  Peez  ?  They  must  feel  in 
sulted  to  be  cooped  up  in  that  old  soap-box  !  I  see  him,"  continued 
Dick.  "  There  he  goes ;  I  see  just  the  end  of  his  tail  in  the  ground 
there.  Go  for  him,  Peez,  go  for  him  !  " 

Peez  "  went "  for  him,  and  catching  hold  of  the  tip  end  of  his  tail 
held  on  to  it  until  the  worm  broke  in  two  pieces.  Peez  held  aloft  this 
tail-piece,  exclaiming,  "  I  've  got  de  tail,  Massa  Dick  !  She  's  good 
yet !  She  '11  grow  jes'  large  in  a  week  as  she  was  afore." 

In  despair,  Dick  said,  "  No  !  Let  her  end  go  and  join  the  rest  of 
her  in  the  ground  if  she  wants  to.  Farewell  to  all  of  'em,  say  I ! 
Who  cares  for  a  dirty  old  bat,  or  a  footy  little  mole  ?  A  feller  can 
get  any  quantity  of  'em  over  in  Tiff's  Woods  !  I  hope  the  flea  is  all 
right !  Undo  him  carefully,  Peez,  and  see.  I  see  the  turtle.  He  's 
safe  at  any  rate !  "  Peez  undid  the  paper  containing  the  flea. 

"  There  he  is,  Massa  Dick,  as  lively  as  a  —  What !  There  !  He 's 
jumped  out  on  my  wrist,  and  away.  Golly !  He 's  gone,  as  I  'm  a 
darkey  !  He  's  a  hankerin'  for  that  coach-dog  agin,  sure 's  yer  born  ! " 

"  By  George  !  the  turtle  is  dead,"  groaned  Dick.  "  There  he  is  all 
shrunk  up  inside  his  shell !  There  was  n't  air  enough  in  the  box, 
Peez.  There  was  n't  air  enough.  Goodness  !  "  he  went  on,  "  we  Ve 
gone  and  sold  all  the  tickets,  and  now  we  've  just  got  to  return  all 
the  money.  I  hate  the  animals  of  New  England !  I  don't  believe 
there  ever  could  be  a  collection  of  them,  anyway.  I  'm  going  to  put 
in  for  a  candy-lottery.  Let 's  get  up  a  candy-lottery,  Peez ;  fifty 
sticks  the  highest  prize.  I  know  where  you  can  buy  two  sticks  for  a 
cent ! " 


102 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


"  All  right !  "  replied  Peez.  "  I  '11  commence  to  cut  the  tickets  out 
of  bits  of  Bristol-board  to-night,  an'  we  '11  draw  her  to-morrow." 

Possessed  with  this  new  idea,  boy-like,  the  old  one  was  immediately 
forgotten,  and  both  Dick  and  Peez  rushed  up  into  the  barn  chamber 
and  lay  on  the  hay  to  think  over  the  details  of  the  lottery.  When 
the  horses  below  heard  the  tramping  of  the  boys  overhead,  they  com 
menced  to  neigh  and  to  paw,  thinking  that  Joshua,  the  coachman, 


was  preparing  their  dinner.  Naturally  enough,  this  noise  suggested 
to  the  boys  the  idea  of  cutting  up  the  hay  in  the  cutter,  and  thus 
help  on  Joshua's  work.  Peez  fed  the  machine  from  the  mow,  while 
Dick  turned  the  crank.  Things  went  on  smoothly  for  a  while,  and 
the  mound  of  chopped  up  hay  grew  larger  and  larger  every  minute. 
By  some  carelessness,  however,  Peez  inadvertently  got  the  two  fingers 
of  his  left  hand  under  the  cruel  knives,  when  —  in  a  jiffy  —  off  they 


HAPS  AND  MISHAPS.  103 

flew  in  among  the  hay,  and  down  tumbled  the  poor  black  boy,  groan 
ing  with  pain  and  covered  with  blood.  Dick  rushed  at  once  to  his  as 
sistance,  staunched  the  wound  as  best  he  could,  and  then  tied  up  the 
maimed  hand  with  his  own  handkerchief,  comforting  him  thus :  — 

"  Poor  Peez  !  Poor  fellow !  Are  ye  faint,  boy  ?  'T  is  n't  any 
thing  !  I  '11  find  your  fingers !  Come  on  now.  Lean  on  me,  an' 
we  '11  go  straight  home,  if  you  can  walk !  Poor  Peezy  !  never 
mind  your  fingers,  I  '11  come  back  for  them !  "  Peez  moaned  with 
pain,  but  after  his  hand  was  bound  up,  he  was  able,  with  the  assist 
ance  of  his  friend,  to  stagger  down  the  stairs,  and  so  slowly  to  ap 
proach  Amanda's  house.  The  agitated  mother,  who  had  heard  his 
groans,  was  awaiting  her  wounded  son  at  the  entrance  of  his  home, 
and  now  rent  the  air  with  such  ejaculations  as,  — 

"  0  Piazzer,  Piazzer,  my  chile,  my  chile  !  Come  to  yer  ole  mudder  ! 
You  dordy-bessum  !  It  '11  be  all  well  to-morrow  !  "  "  Massa  Richard, 
how  was  it  did  ?  Am  both  his  fingers  off  an'  lost  in  de  hay  ?  What 
a  pity,  what  a  pity  !  " 

She  laid  him  on  the  spare  bed,  and  took  off  his  clothes  with  the 
tenderest  care,  while  she  waited  for  Doctor  Toulou  to  come.  After 
Dick  saw  poor  Peez  well  cared  for,  and  heard  the  surgeon  say  that  he 
would  recover  from  his  accident  with  no  other  detriment  than  the  loss 
of  his  two  fingers,  he  hurried  back  to  the  barn  chamber,  in  search  of 
the  lost  digits.  After  looking  around  and  under  the  hay-cutter,  and 
pulling  over  the  mow,  he  at  last  espied  the  missing  members,  pale 
and  cold,  lying  together  by  themselves,  as  if  they  were  asleep.  They 
really  presented  a  pitiful  sight.  He  took  them  both  up  tenderly,  and 
wrapping  them  carefully  in  a  newspaper,  returned  with  a  sad  counte 
nance  to  Peez's  home  as  fast  as  possible.  Amanda  appeared  at  the  door 
with  one  of  her  best  china  saucers,  in  which  she  received  the  two  little 


104 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


finger  bodies.  These  she  carried  into  the  house,  and  left  in  the  closet, 
where  it  was  cool. 

Negroes  are  very  superstitious  in  regard  to  everything  belonging  to 
the  dead.  In  common  with  many  other  people,  they  have  a  hideous 
fancy  for  preserving  some  ghastly  memorial  appertaining  to  the  last 
rites  of  their  departed  ones.  They  like  to  have  such  mournful  re 
minders  even  hanging  on  the  walls  of  their  parlors,  or  laid  on  the 
centre-table  in  their  "  keeping  rooms."  Some  such  sentiment  as  this 
possessed  Amanda.  She  desired  to  retain,  as  long  as  possible,  the 
poor  lifeless  fingers,  which  were  once  "  part  and  parcel "  of  her  "  chile 
Piazzer."  From  time  to  time  she  would  make  visits  to  this  closet, 
and  look  at  these  dead  fragments,  shedding  tears  of  bitter  regret. 

The  boys,  who  were  so  fond  of  Peez,  were  all  pained  to  hear  of 
his  accident.  They  knew  that  Dick  had  found  the  fingers  in  the  hay, 
and  that  Amanda  had  preserved  them  in  a  saucer  in  her  closet,  so 
there  was  a  constant  "  stream  "  of  urchins  knocking  at  Peez's  door  to 


HAPS  AND  MISHAPS. 


105 


inquire  for  his  health.  Amanda  always  responded  to  these  knocks  with 
beaming  alacrity,  whereupon  the  boys  would  say,  "  Please,  Amanda, 
let  us  see  Peez's  fingers?"  to  which  she  would  reply,  "Pass  in 
chil'uns,  but  don  't  touch  'em,  and  don't  speak  above  a  whisper,  you 
might  disturb  'em  !  " 

Slowly  but  surely  Peez  recovered.  The  "  stumps  "  healed  finely, 
and  when  he  appeared  on  the  play-ground,  loud  shouts  of  joy  went  up 
from  the  assembled  crowd.  Peez  absolutely  got  weary  of  exhibiting 
his  "  stumps  "  to  different  boys.  They  even  came  from  neighboring 
towns  to  see  the  hay-cutter,  which  performed  the  bloody  deed,  and  the 
black  boy  who  had  to  suffer  dismemberment. 

Amanda  buried  the  fingers  at  last  in  her  garden  among  the  holly 
hocks  and  the  sun-flowers,  and  erected  a  little  sign  to  mark  the  spot, 
on  which,  at  her  dictation,  Dick  printed  these  words :  "  Here  lies 
Peez's  fingers,  aged  fourteen  years,  two  months,  and  twenty  days." 


CHAPTER  IX. 


A  DRIVE  AND  ITS  CONSEQUENCES. 

UTUMN  was  now  fast  approaching,  with 
its  cool  nights  and  mornings.     Vegetation 
in   Compton   had  reached   a   point  where 
growth  was   stopped,   and  a   brief   space 
given  it  to  delight  the  world  with 
its    dying    glories.      During   the 
warm  season  it  was  the  custom  for 
most  of   its  inhabitants  to    remain 
in  Compton.     It  was  not  the  fash 
ion,  as  it  is  nowadays,  to  gad  about 

from  one  watering-place  to  another,  just  as  soon  as  the  sun  became  a 
trifle  hotter  than  usual.  Everybody  there  found  his  home  the  most 
comfortable  spot  to  keep  cool  in.  A  few  of  the  richest  people,  it  is 
true,  in  the  month  of  August,  took  their  family  carriages  and  horses 
and  went  jogging  off  to  Saratoga  Springs,  with  trunks  slung  under 
the  hinder  axle.  But  this  was  an  exception,  not  the  rule.  Besides, 
Compton  was  so  nearly  a  country-place,  that  all  that  was  needed  for 
an  individual  desiring  to  get  among  stone  walls  and  hay-stacks  was  to 
turn  up  one  street  and  down  another.  The  boys  of  Compton  managed 
to  bear  the  heat  famously.  One  favorite  way  of  resisting  it  was  to  go 
in  to  swim  every  night  over  at  "  Tiff's  Woods."  Here  they  luxuriated 
in  the  cool  waves  of  the  Woonasquatucket,  as  they  flowed  lazily  to= 


A    DRIVE  AND  ITS   CONSEQUENCES. 


107 


ward  Compton  Bay.  Here  they  leisurely  undressed  themselves  under 
the  shadow  of  the  old  oaks  along  the  river  banks.  Here  they  dove 
off  each  other's  shoulders  after  white  clam  shells,  or,  like  frogs,  swam 
under  water.  Thus  in  its  refreshing  tide  they  disported  for  hours, 

pawing  the  waves  dog-fashion,  churn 
ing  them  into  foam  like  a  river  steam 
boat,  or  showing  off  to  their  compan 
ions  on  the  banks  the  wonders  of  the 
"cart-wheel"  and  the  length  of  time 
they  could  remain  on  the  bottom. 
Sputtering  and  floundering, 
giiSS  these  merry  fellows  reached 
the  pebbly  shore.  The 
banks  were  steep, 
and  the  pointed 
stones  often  cut  and 
bruised  their  white 
and  delicate  feet. 
But  what  did  they  care  for  such  trifles  ?  A  glorious  bath  at  "  Tiff's 
Woods "  was  worth  all  the  cuts  and  bruises  they  ever  got  in  obtain 
ing  it. 

If  perchance  they  forgot  to  fetch  towels,  they  gladly  chased  each 
other  dry,  up  and  down  the  green  glade  in  the  vicinity.  This  was 
royal  sport ;  but  when  the  mercury  commenced  to  descend  in  the 
tube,  and  the  water  ceased  to  be,  as  the  boys  expressed  it,  "  as  warm 
as  puddin',"  and  became  "  as  cold  as  thunder,"  this  fun  had  to  be  sus 
pended. 

Dick  Reydon,  Peez  Fitts,  Pete  Smart,  and  the  other  "  fellers  "  had 
splendid  times  all  that  summer.  As  the  season  approached  for  the 


108 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


long  vacation  to  wind   up,    and   school   to   begin   once   more,    they 

did  n't  relish  the  prospect  at  all.     The  leather  "  suckers  "  *  were  now 

laid  aside  for  "  Hare  and 
Hounds,"  and  "Blank 
Blank  Bladder."  This  lat 
ter  game  resembled  several 
modern  ones  which  have  ap 
peared  under  different  titles. 
It  was  comparatively  a  new 
sport  in  Compton  at  the 
-_  time  Dick  and  Peez  went  to 
school,  so  the  boys  entered 
into  it  with  great  spirit. 
Like  all  other  games,  before 

beginning  to  play,  the  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  decide  who  was 

to  be  "  IT,"  as  the  boy  was  called,  last  counted  out. 

This  important  point  was,  as  usual,  settled  by  the  boys  getting  all  in 

a  bunch,  and  one  of  them  repeating  some  such  cabalistic  words  as,  — 

"  Haly,  maly,  tippery,  tig, 
Tine,  tone,  tonibo,  nig. 
Goat,  throat,  country  note, 
Tine,  tone,  tiz." 

Or,  perhaps,  this  one,  — 

"H-E-Ray-Or-Rig-Hi-Van-Or-Rack-Ger-U-Egor." 

Or,  sometimes,  this  beauty :  — 

"  Mamy,  meeny,  mony,  my. 
Barsa,  lony,  fony,  thigh, 

1  Suckers  were  round  pieces  of  leather  with  long  strings  through  the  middle,  and  then 
soaked  in  water.  They  were  used  by  boys  for  sucking  up  stones,  bricks,  and  other  heavy 
things. 


A   DRIVE  AND  ITS   CONSEQUENCES. 


109 


Where,  there,  yeller  hair, 
O,  U,  blubber,  out. 
Whing,  whang,  whoggle." 

After  "  IT  "  had  been  chosen,  he  was  to  go  out  from  goal,  or 
"  gool "  as  it  was  then  always  termed,  and  hide  himself.  The  rest  of 
the  boys  remained  at  base  long  enough  to  count  a  hundred.  Then 
they  all  started  in  every  direction  to  discover  "  IT  's "  hiding-place. 
As  soon  as  this  was  espied,  the  finder  screamed  out  "  Rat-tail,  Rat- 
tail,"  at  the  top  of  his  lungs,  and 
then  "  put  for  home."  The  others 
of  the  party,  who  had  wandered 
away  in  the  neighboring  back 
yards  and  down  the  off  alleys 
after  the  hider,  hearing  this  sig 
nificant  word,  also  "  went  for 
gool "  as  "  tight  "  as  they  could, 
chased,  of  course,  by  the  detected 
"  IT  "  in  hot  haste  behind.  Those 
of  the  party  he  caught  before 
"  gool "  was  reached  joined  with 
him  when  he  next  went  forth  to  hide.  There  was  lots  of  fun  in  the 
frantic  endeavors  of  "  IT  "  to  "  tag  "  the  boys  before  they  touched 
"  gool."  Some  of  the  "  fellers  "  exhibited  rare  skill  in  dodging  their 
enemy  on  such  occasions.  When  the  game  was  reduced  to  nearly  all 
"  ITS,"  and  with  but  one  or  two  "  Rat-tailers,"  it  became  a  most  ex 
citing  contest.  The  youngster,  then,  whose  legs  were  nimble  enough 
to  elude  his  pursuers,  or  was  lithe  enough  to  dodge  in  and  under,  over 
and  around  the  eager  army  of  assailants  advancing  upon  him  from 
every  side,  and  reach  home  safely,  was  naturally  the  hero  of  the  play- 


110 


TWO*  COMPTON  BOYS. 


ground.     This  with  other  sports  occupied  the  time  of  Dick  and  his 
friends  until  the  leaves  began  to  fall. 

One  bland  afternoon  in  October,  when  the  foliage  was  decked  in 
all  the  hues  of  the  rainbow,  and  the  autumnal  rains  had  laid  the 
dust,  Dick  persuaded  his  father  to  allow  Joshua,  the  coachman,  to 
hitch  the  bay  work -horses  in  the  big  lumber -wagon  and  take  the 
boys  to  drive.  There  were  Pete  Smart  and  Eben  Tucker,  Eph. 
Bowen  And  Al.  Gould,  Simeon  Brewer  and  Joe  Hodges,  who,  with 
Dick  and  Peez  on  the  front  seat  next  to  Joshua,  made  quite  a 


wagon-load.  The  boys  had  provided  themselves  against  the  pangs 
of  hunger,  with  apples  and  stick  licorice,  Mr.  Cory's  cookies  and 
sugar  jumbles.  So  all  danger  from  starvation  was  removed.  Be 
sides  articles  of  food,  several  of  them  had  slings  made  out  of  the 
crotches  of  apple-boughs.  These  weapons  for  killing  birds  and  wound 
ing  cats,  as  every  boy  knows,  were  arranged  with  bits  of  india-rubber 


A   DRIVE  AND  ITS   CONSEQUENCES.  Ill 

tied  to  a  leather  pad  to  hold  the  pebble ;  the  whole  being  secured 
to  the  crotch  by  stout  strings,  as  in  the  design  below.  With  these 
implements  of  worriment  they  sallied  out  from  Compton  to  "  pepper  " 
the  cats  and  the  birds.  Like  all  other  youth,  Dick  and  his  companions 
were  filled  with  that  boyish  thoughtlessness  whose  only  object  is  to 
have  fun,  regardless  of  consequences. 

The  wagon  rolled  over  Compton  bridge,  turned  up  President  Street, 
then  to  the  left  over  Useful  Avenue,  as  far 
as  Riot  Hill.  Here  it  turned  to  the  right 
again,  and  after  ascending  a  small  eminence, 
found  itself  in  the  region  of  farm-houses  and 
green  fields.  The  road,  which  was  liberally 
dotted  with  neat  farm-houses  and  fertile 
meadows,  then  led  away  towards  the  neigh 
boring  village  of  Tuxet.  The  boys  were  all 
merry  and  brimful  of  mischief.  First,  they 
played  "  Traveller's  Whist,"  and  before  those  on  the  left  side  of  the 
wagon  had  scored  a  single  one,  those  on  the  right  had  already  raised 
their  list  to  twenty-three,  by  counting  a  black  cat  sitting  in  the  win 
dow,  ten,  and  a  white  horse  in  the  fields,  five. 

There  was  the  usual  altercation,  of  course,  in  regard  to  which  side 
had  the  right  to  count  the  hens  and  chickens  which  were  first  per 
ceived  by  the  boys  on  the  left,  but  which  had  provokingly  scampered 
over,  just  in  front  of  the  horses'  heads,  and  ranged  themselves  on  the 
right  of  the  road  in  time  to  be  claimed  by  the  right-hand  party. 
These  little  disputes,  however,  were  all  amicably  settled,  and  when 
the  game  ended,  the  "  right-handers  "  led  the  other  side  by  fifty.  By 
this  time  all  the  cookies  and  sugar  jumbles  had  been  eaten  up,  and 
each  boy  had  a  large  piece  of  stick  licorice  in  the  corner  of  his  mouth, 


112  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

which  looked,  when  removed  from  time  to  time,  like  a  diminutive  tree? 
—  the  "  chew  "  part  representing  the  foliage  and  branches.  Terrible 
thirst  now  set  in.  The  boys  all  "  piled  "  out  for  a  drink  of  water 
from  an  old  well  just  under  an  ancient  spreading  elm,  in  whose 
branches  hung  a  forgotten  scythe,  and  within  whose  shade  an  anti 
quated  grin'-stone,  with  its  crooked  crank,  was  left.  Every  boy  knows 
how  much  better  water  tastes  when  drunk  from  a  dripping  bucket 
brought  up  from  the  sparkling  depths  below,  by  the  graceful,  old- 
fashioned  well-sweep,  than  when  obtained  in  any  other  way.  One  after 
another,  each  of  Dick's  companions  took  his  place  at  the  overflowing 
vessel,  where,  with  both  hands  resting  on  the  brim,  with  body  bent 
forward  and  feet  spread  apart  so  as  to  avoid  the  escaping  stream,  he 
buried  his  jolly  face  to  the  nostrils  in  the  cool,  crystal  nectar,  and 
slaked  his  thirst.  Ice-water  is  "  nothing  "  to  this  sort.  It  goes  to 
the  "  right  spot,"  and,  in  the  words  of  a  Compton  poet,  — 

"Beats  that  conveyed  to  the  lips  in  golden  chalice, 
Or  drunk  from  jeweled  brim." 

The  young  occupants   of  the  lumber-wagon   drank  quarts  of  this 
cooling  beverage 

"  Beneath  the  shadow  of  the  ancestral  elm  ;  " 

then,  climbing  again  to  their  places,  told  Joshua  to  whip  up  the  bays 
once  more.  It  was  the  slings'  turn  now  to  come  into  use.  Pete 
Smart  was  the  first  one  who  let  fly  a  pebble,  which  struck  a  black  cat 
on  the  tail  just  as  she  was  disappearing  over  a  fence.  Away  she  shot 
like  a  flash  of  black  lightning,  with  a  "  me-o-w,"  and  a  scamper,  not 
knowing  what  had  hit  her.  "  Guy  !  see  her  l  marvel ! '  "  screamed  out 
Al.  Young,  while  the  rest  shook  with  laughter.  Next,  the  thought 
less  boys  aimed  at  a  little  chipping-bird.  Luckily,  this  shot  missed  its 
mark,  or  "  little  Chippy  "  would  have  been  killed.  Again  these  wicked 


A   DRIVE  AND  ITS   CONSEQUENCES. 


113 


\ 


chaps  struck  an  old  farm-dog  and  made  him  go  yelping  into  the  barn, 
while  a  man  with  a  pitch-fork  and  a  straw  hat  shook  his  fist  at  the 
mischievous  crew  as  it  passed  along.  Dick 
Reydon  was  as  thoughtless  as  the  rest  of 
his  companions.  In  his  quiet,  sober  mo 
ments  he  would  n't  hurt  a  fly,  but  now,  ex 
hilarated  by  the  excitement  caused  by  aim 
ing  something  at  something  else,  and  then 
actually  hitting  that  "  something  else,"  he 
"lost  his  head,"  as  the  saying  is,  and  be 
came  perfectly  wild.  As  each  little  pebble 
went  whizzing  through  the  air  on  its  mur 
derous  errand,  he  rollicked  and  rolled  about 
as  if  he  would  split.  It  is  charitable  to  believe  that  it  is  thought 
lessness,  and  not  wanton  cruelty,  which  makes  boys  the  tyrants  and 
butchers  they  undoubtedly  are. 
One  little  crime  leads  very 
easily  to  a  larger  one,  and  our 
young  rascals  got  weary  of 
shooting  at  cats  and  dogs,  and 
now  turned  their  attention  to 
higher  games.  Dick  espied  an 
old  gray-headed  farmer  with  his 
back  turned  towards  them,  in 
tently  engaged  in  cleaning  and 
greasing  a  wagon- wheel.  The 
opportunity  was  too  good  a  one 
to  let  slip.  "Look,  fellers!" 
.said  Dick,  "  see  me  '  pap  '  that  old  chap  bent  over  the  wheel  there ! 


114  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

"  Ping  !  "  went  the  sling,  and  before  one  could  say  "  fish-hooks  "  the 
pebble  had  struck  the  old  gentleman  (as  he  stood  crooked  over  the 
wheel),  right  on  the  back  of  his  trousers,  where  they  were  so  tight. 
He  almost  leapt  into  the  air  with  pain,  and  rubbed  the  aggrieved  spot 
like  "all  possessed,"  at  the  same  time  screwing  up  his  face  into  all 
sorts  of  contortions.  The  boys  crammed  their  handkerchiefs  into 
their  mouths  and  nearly  rolled  off  their  seats  with  laughter.  "  Drive 
on,  Joshua  !  Drive  on  !  "  "  Whip  up  !  Whip  up  !  I  tell  ye,"  they 
cried,  as  they  caught  sight  of  another  man  who  rushed  to  the  road 
bare-headed,  and  called  after  them  to  stop,  interspersing  his  harangue 
with  all  manner  of  vile  epithets. 

Joshua  gave  the  bays  the  rein,  and  they  rushed  "  lickity-cut "  to 
wards  Tuxet.  The  boys  kept  looking  back  to  watch  what  would  next 
turn  up.  "  There  he  goes  into  the  barn  !  "  cried  Eben.  "  Thunder  ! 
so  he  does  !  "  replied  Peez.  "  See  !  He  's  a  frowin'  de  saddle  on  de 
ole  horse.  I  '11  bet  he  's  goin'  for  to  chase  us.  Guy  !  "  added  the 
black  boy,  with  glaring  eyeballs,  "  we  '11  have  to  lick  it !  "  And  "  lick 
it "  they  did.  Away  went  the  lash  and  away  went  the  bays,  and  away 
rumbled  the  wagon.  On  rushed  the  horseman  to  cut  it  off,  over  the 
fences  and  across  the  fields.  As  they  turned  on  to  the  main  road 
where  it  goes  into  Tuxet,  they  met  the  man  right  in  their  front  throw 
ing  up  his  arms  and  hallooing  like  "  all  mad."  "  Stop  them  !  Stop 
the  rascals,"  cried  he.  "  I  '11  have  the  whole  lot  o'  ye  arrested  for 
'sault  and  batt'ry." 

A  crowd  here  commenced  to  collect  very  rapidly,  which  forced 
Joshua  to  rein  up  the  bays,  and  before  one  could  count  ten,  a  man 
with  a  silver  plate  on  his  breast,  who  called  himself  a  constable,  had 
arrested  the  whole  party,  and  ordered  it  to  come  with  him.  He  led 
the  way  towards  the  "  watch  -  house,"  followed  by  Joshua  and  his 


A    DRIVE  AND  ITS   CONSEQUENCES. 


115 


Y/agon-load  of  boys,  a  sorrowful  lot.  Peez  Fitts,  watching  his  chance, 
let  himself  quietly  drop  from  the  tail-end  of  the  wagon,  and  escaping 
observation  for  the  moment  be 
hind  a  pile  of  stones,  scampered 
across  country  in  the  direction 
of  Compton,  to  acquaint  Dick's 
father  of  the  calamity. 

While  Joshua  and  his  discon 
solate  boys  are  being  escorted 
to  the  "  watch-house  "  to  wait 
there  until  they  can  be  arraigned 
before  old  Justice  Miller,  who 
held  a  police  court  in  Tuxet 
every  week,  let  us  follow  the 
flying  footsteps  of  Peez  Fitts, 
as  he  "scuds"  on  his  journey 
towards  Compton  and  Reydon  House. 

He  knew  a  way  across  lots  which  shortened  the  distance  to  Compton 
fully  a  mile,  and  in  this  direction  he  scampered.  It  was  a  fine  sight 
to  watch  that  bright -eyed,  clean-limbed  black  boy,  as  he  lightly 
vaulted  the  stone  walls  one  after  another,  and  sped  on  his  mission 
through  farm-yards  and  hay-fields.  Once  or  twice  the  old  dogs  who 
guard  so  faithfully  every  country  home  would  catch  a  glimpse  of 
Peez  as  he  flitted  under  the  apple-trees,  but  they  soon  substituted  for 
ominous  growls  a  friendly  wag  of  the  tail,  when  they  recognized  the 
kind-hearted  Peez,  who  so  often  roamed  in  their  neighborhood. 

When  Dick's  friend  and  companion  reached  Reydon  House,  he  was 
breathless  with  his  exertions,  and  covered  with  the  mud  of  sundry  bogs, 
through  which  he  had  floundered.  He  went  straight  into  the  little 


116 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


front  room  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reydon  were  quietly  sitting,  and  said, 
with  his  great  black  eyes  rolling  in  their  white  surroundings,  — 

"  Golly !  Massa  Reydon !     Dick  let  fly  a  pebble,  an'  i  papped '  an 

old  cove  on  the  back  of 
his  trousers  an'  made  him 
gr  jump  like  a  hoppergrass, 
an'  another  chap  frew 
de  saddle  on  de  horse 
an'  come  for  us,  an' 
father  Joshua  he  plied 
de  gad,  but  't  wan't  no 
use,  for  the  man  he  cut 
'cross  lots,  lickity-split, 
an'  fo'  we  knowed  it,  he 
come  junk  up,  jes'  in 
front,  an'  dere  we  all 
were  in  a  mess,  an'  de 
crowd  collec'  on  eb'ry  side  an'  surroun'  us,  an'  dey  took  de  whole  kit 
an'  boodle  of  'em  to  de  ( Watch  Up,'  an'  I  squirled  out  de  tail  ob 
de  wagon,  an'  kited  for  here,  an'  here  I  am  ;  an'  so  Massa  Reydon 
come  on  an'  free  de  boys  from  de  jail,  where  dey  '11  rot  if  you  don' 
do  somethin'  right  off." 

"  Stop  !  Stop,  I  say  !  "  said  Mr.  Reydon.  "  Stop,  Pizarro  !  Are 
you  crazy?  Answer  my  questions  and  say  nothing  until  I  ask 
you." 

"  Yes,  Massa  Reydon,  I  '11  respec'  yer  injunction,"  said  the  breath 
less  Peez. 

"  Where  are  Joshua  and  the  boys  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Reydon. 
"  In  Tuxet  calaboose." 


A   DRIVE   AND  ITS   CONSEQUENCES.  117 

"  What  for  ?  "  said  Mr.  Reydon. 

"  '  Cause  one  of  de  boys  '  papped  '  a  man  with  a  pebble." 

"Did  it  hurt  him?  "  continued  Mr.  Reydon. 

"  He  squirmed  consid'able,"  answered  Peez,  with  a  smile. 

"Who  stopped  the  wagon ? " 

"  A  feller  on  horseback  who  headed  us  off,  an'  told  the  watchman." 

"  What  made  the  boys  fire  the  pebble  ?  " 

"  Fun,  Massa  Reydon  —  Simon-pure  fun." 

"  Who  flung  the  pebble  ?" 

"  A  boy." 

"  What  boy  ?     Was  it  Dick  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Reydon. 


"  Don'  hurt  him,  Massa  Reydon,"  said  Peez.  "  He  did  n't  mean  to. 
It  slipped  out  of  his  han'  when  he  was  a  handlin'  of  it." 

"  If  Dick  threw  the  pebble  I  know  he  will  acknowledge  it.  My  son 
is  as  brave  as  he  is  truthful.  Come,"  added  Mr.  Reydon,  "  let 's  go  to 
them.  I  think  I  can  arrange  the  matter  without  much  trouble." 

Peez  and  Dick's  father  quickly  put  old  gray  Prince  in  the  yellow 
chaise,  and,  perched  up  in  the  high  seat  beside  his  master,  their  equi- 


118  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

page  rolled  out  of  the  cobble-stone  stable-yard,  and  was  soon  on  the 
road  to  Tuxet,  at  a  spanking  gait. 

When  the  two-wheeled  vehicle  turned  up  the  alley  which  led  to  Jus 
tice  Miller's  office,  its  occupants  concluded,  by  the  crowd  assembled 
there,  that  the  boys  had  probably  been  brought  before  the  magistrate, 
and  the  trial  for  "  'sault  and  batt'ry  "  was  about  to  begin. 

After  tying  Prince  to  a  neighboring  fence,  Mr.  Reydon  pushed  his 
way  through  the  motley  group  which  blocked  up  the  entrance  of  the 
court-room. 

Closely  followed  by  Peez,  he  soon  found  himself  in  the  midst  of  a 
curious  assembly. 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  TRIAL. 

R.  REYDON  and  Peez  found  themselves  in  a  low- 
studded,  whitewashed  room,  some  eighteen  feet 
square.  Around  its  walls  was  to  be  seen 
a  dingy  streak,  made  by  the  greasy  heads 
of  the  audience  which  filled  the  apart 
ment  on  court-days.  This  motley  assem 
bly  occupied  a  row  of  unpainted  benches, 
ranged  close  against  these  discolored  sides. 

An  iron  stove  for  burning  wood  stood  in  one  corner,  supported  on 
four  bricks,  to  keep 
it  from  burning  the 
floor  ;  while  a  rick 
ety  stove-pipe  im 
perfectly  conveyed 
the  smoke  to  the 
chimney  in  an  op 
posite  corner. 

Justice  Miller  was 
a  slight,  short,  gray- 
haired  old  fellow, 
with  round  shoul 
ders  and  sunken  stomach.  He  wore  gray  clothes,  which,  with  his  dry, 


120 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


gray  hair  and  long,  shaggy,  gray  eyebrows,  gave  him  the  appearance 
of  having  just  emerged  from  a  meal  barrel.  He  held  a  police  court 
every  week  in  this  apartment,  which  was  a  portion  of  the  building 
where  drunken  men  and  other  persons  committing  mischief  were  con 
fined.  Squire  Miller  —  or,  as  some  of  his  fellow  citizens  styled  him, 
"  Jedge  Miller  "  —  sat  in  a  straight,  high-backed  chair,  and  behind  a 
long  wooden  desk,  upon  which  were  placed  a  broken-nosed  pitcher  and 
a  tin  cup.  Beside  him  stood  a  rotund  individual  with  a  very  round, 
almost  bald  head,  and  a  correspondingly  large  "  corporation."  He 
looked  something  like  a  nine-pin.  The  sparse  amount  of  hair  he  pos- 
.  sessed  was  carefully  gathered  from  behind  his  ears  and  other  parts  ad 
jacent  ;  and  by  means  of  bear's  grease  and  coaxing,  was  trained  up  like 

a  vine,  as  far  as  the  top  of  his  cranium, 
where  it  rested  in  a  little  bunch,  held  to 
gether  by  a  pin.  This  bunch  afforded  a 
hiding  -  place  for  a  large  and  flourishing 
wen,  which  sat  like  a  small  bowlder  on  the 
summit  of  his  head.  This  person's  name 
was  Gardiner.  He  was  the  only  constable 
in  Tuxet,  and  was,  moreover,  the  obnoxious 
individual  who  had  arrested  Dick  and  his 
companions  on  complaint  of  the  man  on 
horseback.  Joshua  and  all  the  boys  were 
stationed  in  a  line  just  at  the  right  of  Mr. 

Gardiner,  and  at  a  convenient  distance  from  his  eagle  eye.  The  audi 
ence  was  rather  a  peculiar  one ;  composed,  for  the  most  part,  of  per 
sons  in  shirt-sleeves  and  overalls,  these  latter  garments  being  tucked 
into  the  boots  of  their  owners.  Hoeing  corn  and  potatoes  during  the 
summer  just  passed  had  given  to  each  countenance  a  coating  of  tan 


THE    TRIAL.  121 

and  freckles  of  the  most  aggressive  variety  ;  while  the  hair  —  whether 
tow  or  mop  —  was  bleached  to  the  dryness  of  hay  by  the  rays  of  the 
sun.  There  were  a  good  number  of  farmers'  dogs  in  the  court-room. 
These  creatures  sat  between  their  masters'  legs,  or  were  crouched  up 
behind  them  in  round  bunches.  A  country  dog  is  a  peculiar  animal. 
He  is  generally  what  is  called  a  "  yaller  "  dog,  with  rough,  brown  coat, 
dangerous  brown  eyes,  and  big  yellow  spots  over  each  of  them.  Some 
of  these  creatures  possessed  stump  tails ;  some  had  tails  that  curled 
over  their  backs ;  while  others  looked  as  if  these  appendages  had  been 
broken  in  the  middle.  They  all,  however,  smelt  very  strongly  of 
"  skunk."  There  were  ominous  growls  and  yelps  from  time  to  time  as 
two  strange  curs  met  each  other  face  to  face,  or  were  summarily 
"  squelched  "  by  their  rough  owners.  A  large  square,  open  spit-box 
filled  with  sand  and  tobacco  quids,  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  court 
room  for  general  accommodation,  while  the  sanded  floor  gave  evidence 
of  many  years'  wear,  with  its  knots  and  cross-grained  portions  rising^ 
up  like  bumps. 

There  was  a  look  of  surprise  on  every  face  as  Mr.  Reydon  and  Peez 
entered  the  apartment,  and  took  seats  near  the  door.  The  boys  were 
delighted  to  see  a  friendly  face.  When  they  were  first  arrested  some 
of  them  were  quite  frightened.  The  show  of  authority  exhibited  by 
the  fat  constable,  in  serving  the  warrant  upon  them,  and  the  general 
bustle  and  newness  of  the  situation,  all  contributed  to  alarm  them. 
Eben  Tucker  feared  lest  they  might  all  be  hung  on  the  gallows  by  the 
neck ;  though  he  did  n't  exactly  know  what  they  had  done  to  merit 
capital  punishment. 

Dick  had  missed  Peez  soon  after  their  arrest,  but  concluded  that  the 
good  fellow  had  escaped  to  Reydon  House  to  notify  his  father  of  the 
dilemma  in  which  they  were  placed.  When,  therefore,  Mr.  Reydon 


122 


TWO   COMPTON  SOYS. 


and  the  black  boy  entered  the  court-room,  there  was  a  great  load  of 
anxiety  taken  from  the  boys'  minds.  They  felt  that  now  they  would 
be  certain  to  receive  fair  play,  and  escape  with  their  necks  at  least. 
In  those  days  the  justice  of  a  police  court  acted  as  judge,  jury,  and 
prosecuting  attorney  as  well ;  and  perhaps  quite  as  much  real  justice 
was  served  out  to  criminals  then,  as  there  is  nowadays  with  a  judge, 
jury,  and  three  or  four  lawyers  on  each  side,  all  added  together. 

Mr.  Justice  Miller  looked  askance  at  Mr.  Reydon  as  he  entered  and 
took  his  seat.  Then,  putting  on  an  expression  of  mock  dignity,  he 
called  up  the  case  of  the  "  Town  vs.  Joshua  Fitts,  Richard  Reydon, 
Peter  Smart,  et  al.  —  for  'sault  and  battery." 


"  Stand  up,  boys  !  "  said  Mr.  Justice  Miller,  as  he  knitted  together 
his  gray  eyebrows  and  wiped  his  nose  with  his  red  bandanna. 

"  Boys  !  you  are  charged,  in  this  warrant,  by  Zedekiah  Jillson,  that 
on  the  thirteenth  day  of  October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thou 
sand  eight  hundred  and  thirty  three,  you  did  feloniously,  maliciously, 
and  with  malice  aforethought,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  let  and  discharge 
and  project,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  a  pebble,  rock,  stone,  bowlder,  or  other  hurt 
ful  substance,  sharp  or  otherwise,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  —  hm  — h-m  — ; 


THE    TRIAL.  123 

and  did  with  said  — hm  —  hm  —  hit,  strike,  maul,  inflict  injury,  may 
hem,  fracture  or  otherwise  —  hm,  hm  —  on  Zedekiah  Jillson,  of  and 
belonging  to  Tuxet  aforesaid,  on  the  spine  of  his  back,  spinal  column, 
backbone,  or  whatever  else  the  dorsal  structure  of  said  Zedekiah  may 
be,  or  has  been  called ;  much  to  said  Zedekiah's  detriment,  hurt,  and 
injury  —  be  the  same  more  or  less  —  hm,  hm,  hm  ;  the  said  Zedekiah, 
aforesaid,  being  at  the  time  bent  over  a  wheel  or  whatever  the  instru 
ment  may  be  called  which  goes  on  the  hinder  axle  of  a  cart,  and  goes 
round  and  round  on  said  axle  —  and  was  greasing  the  same  in  order 
that  said  wheel  or  whatever  said  —  hm,  hm,  hm ;  —  the  said  Zede 
kiah  offering  no  sort  of  provocation,  insult,  etc.,  —  hm,  hm,  hm  —  to 
cause  said  unprovoked  assault,  hm  —  hm.  W  hat  do  you  say,  boys ! 
Are  you  guilty  or  not  guilty  ?  " 

The  boys  stood  up  in  obedience  to  the  judge's  commands,  and  feel 
ing  perfectly  sure  that  they  had  never  committed  such  a  list  of  dread 
ful  crimes  as  had  just  been  read  to  them,  answered  with  a  shout,  — 

"  Not  guilty  !  " 

"  We  '11  see  whether  you  're  guilty,  my  young  rapscallions.  I  '11  call 
Zedekiah  Jillson,  and  we  '11  hear  him  tell  his  story." 

"  Zedekiah  Jillson,  take  the  witness  stand,  and  hold  up  your  right 
hand ! " 

Whereupon  there  arose  from  among  the  audience,  with  some  diffi 
culty,  an  old  man  about  seventy  years  of  age.  He  was  considerably 
bent  over  with  rheumatism,  and  walked  with  difficulty,  leaning  on 
a  cane.  On  being  sworn,  he  stated  to  the  Court  that  he  had  just  got 
ten  out  from  a  long  "  spell  of  rheumatiz,"  and  was  hobbling  about  the 
yard  in  the  sun,  trying,  as  he  said,  "  to  limber  up  his  j'ints  a  leetle,  so 
as  to  do  chores  an'  sich  like,  while  Ahab,  that 's  my  son-in-law,"  said 
Zedekiah,  "  while  Ahab  milked,  and  fed  the  pigs,  and  did  the  gen'ral 
bossinV 


124  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

He  then  went  on  to  say  that  the  old  cart  needed  greasing,  and 
so  he  got  the  "  jack  "  and  "  h'isted  "  the  nigh  hind-wheel,  and  was 
"  a-greasin'  it,"  when  a  big  stone  "  come  "  and  hit  him  on  the  spine 
of  his  back,  and  paralyzed  him,  and  "  set  him  all  back,"  and  "  fetched 
on  his  rheumatiz  agin,"  so  that  it  would  be  months  "  afore  he  could 
lay  a  hand  to  anythin'." 

"  Who  fired  the  stone  at  you  ?  "  asked  the  Judge. 

"  One  o'  them  young  wretches  !  "  replied  Mr.  Jillson,  rubbing  at 
the  same  time  the  sore  spot  on  his  back,  which  seemed  to  pain  him  sud 
denly. 

"  Which  one  ?  "  inquired  the  Squire. 

"  Dunno,  an'  doan'  care,  so  long's  'twas  one  on  'em  !  " 

"  How  do  you  know,  Mr.  Jillson,  that  it  was  one  of  these  boys. 
Could  n't  the  stone  have  been  thrown  by  somebody  else  ?  " 

"  Why,  bless  your  heart,  Jedge,  there  ain't  no  '  could  n't '  about  ito 
I  know  it  was  one  on  'em,  that 's  all !  " 

"  If  your  back  was  away  from  the  road,  Mr.  Jillson,  when  the  stone 
was  fired,  and  you  only  turned  about  when  the  missile  hit  you,  it  would 
seem  to  be  impossible  to  tell  who  slung  the  stone,"  suggested  the  Judge. 

"  It  was  n't  impossible  for  all  that,  Jedge,  for  there  the  rascals  were 
right  afore  my  eyes,  a-grinnin'  an'  a-laughin'  at  what  they  'd  done,  as 
if  they  were  mad." 

"  You  may  step  down,  Mr.  Jillson,"  said  Squire  Miller,  "  and  let 
Ahab  Minor  take  the  stand." 

Ahab  was  the  impetuous  individual  who  had  followed  the  boys  on 
horseback,  and  who  finally  confronted  them  at  the  "  Four  Corners," 
and  had  caused  their  arrest.  Ahab  was  a  very  choleric  person.  A 
slight  impediment  of  speech  caused  him  to  clear  his  throat  before  com 
mencing  a  sentence.  Even  if  it  were  but  to  answer  "  yes,"  or  "  no," 
he  was  forced  to  "  hem  "  first. 


THE    TRIAL. 


125 


His  testimony  was  a  little  more  to  the  point.  He  swore  that  the 
stone  came  from  a  cart-load  of  rollicking  boys,  and  that  these  boys  be 
fore  him  were  the  very  individuals  themselves  ;  and,  moreover,  that 
he  saw  one  of  them  fire  it. 

"  Which  one,  Mr.  Minor  ?  "  asked  the  Judge. 

"  Hem  !     Which    one  ? "    replied   the  witness,  first   repeating   the 
question.    "  Why  —  hem  —  it  was  a  feller  with  a 
jacket  on  —  hem.     He  stood  next  to  the  darkey." 

"  Can  you  point  out  the  boy  ?  " 

"  Hem  —  That  looks  like  the  little  cuss  — 
hem."  (Pointing  to  Pete  Smart.) 

"  You  say,"  repeated  the  Judge,  "  that  the 
person  who  fired,  projected,  or  slung  the  stone 
at  the  aforesaid,  was  standing  next  to  a  colored 
boy.  Now,  do  you  see  any  colored  person  here 

that  resembles  that  boy  ?  " 

* 

"  Hem,  no,  your  Honor  !  He  must  've  'scaped. 
Hem  —  there  was  one,  sure,  for  I  see  him  as 
plain  as  I  see  Mr.  Gardiner's  —  hem  —  top  of  Mr. 
Gardiner's  head."  (Here  Mr.  Gardiner  scowled, 
and  the  audience  tittered.)  All  eyes  were  now 
directed  towards  Peez  Fitts,  who  was  the  only  col 
ored  individual  in  the  court-room.  He  sat  with  Mr.  Reydon,  watching 
the  progress  of  the  trial. 

"  Thar  he  is,"  ejaculated  Mr.  Minor,  catching  sight  of  Peez. 
"  Hem — m,  sure  as  shootin'  —  thai*  stands  the  darkey  looking  as  in 
nocent  as  a  'skeeter." 

"  Possibly,"  said  the  Judge,  thinking  aloud,  "  possibly  this  colored 
person  may  throw  important  light  on  the  case,  and,  since  by  some 


126 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


oversight  his  name  is  not  included  in  the  indictment,  we  will  make 
him  a  witness  for  the  Town,  and  call  him  to  the  stand." 

Mr.  Minor  vacated  the  witness-box,  and  took  his  seat,  hemming 
and  perspiring  with  excitement. 

"  Call  the  black  boy  to  the  stand,"  said  Judge  Miller  to  Mr. 
Gardiner  (the  fat  constable  with  the  wen). 

"  You  !  "  said  Mr.  Gardiner,  not  knowing  Peez's  name.     "  Here  ! 


you  !  black  boy  ! 


Say! 


Come  to  the  witness- 

*/ 

box  and  be  sworn  !  The  Jedge  calls  for  ye  !  " 
At  this,  Peez  Fitts  arose  with  a  look  of  as 
tonishment  on  his  fine  ebony  face.  Turning 
towards  Mr.  Reydon  an  instant,  who  nodded 
to  him  to  obey  the  summons,  he  followed  the 
officer,  and  mounted  to  the  position  so  lately 
occupied  by  Mr.  Ahab  Minor.  Peez  was  a  gal 
lant  fellow.  He  hardly  knew  what  fear  was, 
and  his  love  for  his  young  master  was  un 
bounded.  Besides,  he  had  n't  forgiven  the 
Judge  or  the  parties  to  this  complaint  for  the 
uncomplimentary  epithets  heaped  upon  him 
and  his  companions.  He  felt  especially  nettled 
also  to  be  compelled  to  take  the  stand  as  a 
witness  for  the  Town,  and  against  all  "the 
boys."  A  look  of  defiance  in  his  set  mouth  and  clenched  fist  made  it 
evident  that  the  "  Jedge  "  would  get  little  benefit  from  his  testimony. 

Peez  held  up  his  right  hand,  and  was  sworn  according  to  law. 

"  What 's  your  name  ?  "  asked  the  Justice,  in  a  pie-crusty  way. 

"  Peez." 

"  Peez  —  what  ?  "  continued  his  questioner. 


THE   TRIAL.  127 

"  No,  sir  !  "  replied  Peez. 

"  No  what  ?  "  —  insisted  the  Judge. 

"  No  '  what '  to  my  name,  sir,"  said  Peez. 

"  Is  Peez  all  the  name  you  've  got  then  ?  Hain't  you  got  no  other  ? 
Gome,  answer  up  quick !  "  said  the  Judge,  getting  mad. 

"  'Most  all  my  name,  sir  !  " 

"  Well !  give  us  the  rest  on  it.     Hurry  up  !  " 

"  Arro  is  de  rest,  sir,"  said  Peez. 

"  Arrer !  Arrer !  What  a  name,"  said  Mr.  Miller.  "  I  s'pose 
everybody  's  got  to  have  some  sort  of  a  handle,  but  it  'pears  to  me 
Peez  Arrer  is  one  of  the  poorest  I  ever  see.  Well !  Mr.  Peez  Arrer, 
where  do  you  live?" 

"  With  my  mudder  !  " 

"  Where  does  your  mother  live  ?  " 

"  With  my  fader."  (Here  the  boys  chuckled,  and  Joshua's  eyes 
squinted  'way  up.) 

"  In  what  city,  town,  hamlet,  county,  or  state  ?  "  thundered  Justice 
Miller.  "  I  will  find  out  where  you  live,  sir,  or  I  '11  put  you  in  the 
watch-house."  By  this  time  the  whole  audience  were  in  a  great  state 
of  excitement  and  laughter,  watching  the  ingenuity  of  the  black  boy 
in  parrying  the  "  Jedge's  "  interrogatories. 

"Come,  sir!     What  city?" 

"  No  city,  sir  !  "  said  Peez. 

"  Well,  what  town  then,  sir  ?  " 

"  Town  of  Compton,  sir." 

"  Town  of  Compton  !  "  repeated  the  Judge.  "  Your  name  then  is 
Peez  Arrer,  and  you  live  with  your  mother  in  the  town  of  Compton. 
Is  that  correct  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  !  "  said  Peez. 


128 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


"  Well,  now  we  've  got  so  far.  I  guess  we  '11  try  and  git  a  leetle 
further." 

"  Was  you  one  of  the  boys  in  that  cart  ?  "  continued  the  Judge. 
"  What  cart  ?  "  answered  Peez.     "  I  don  't  see  any  !  "     (Here  the 
audience  laughed  again,  but  were  hushed  by  Mr.  Gardiner.) 

"  The  cart  in  which  these  'ere   boys  were   arrested  for  slinging  a 
stone,  rock,  bowlder,  or  otherwise,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  at  Zede- 
kiah  Jillson  aforesaid.     Come,  sir,  was  you  in  that  'are  cart  ?  " 
"  We  don't  call  it  a  cart,  sir  !  " 
"  What  do  you  call  it,  then  ?  " 
"  De  lumber-wagon,  Massa  Judge  !  " 

"  Lumber-wagon  or  cart,  it 's  all  the 
same.     Was  you   one  of   the  boys  in 
that  lumber-wagon  ?  " 
"  When,  sir  ?  " 

"  When  the  stone  was  slung  which 
hit  the  aforesaid  Jillson,  I  tell  ye  !  " 

"I    wasn't    entirely  in    de    wagon, 
Judge ! " 

"  Was    you    partly   in    it,    then  ? " 
bawled  the  officer. 

"  De   right  arm,  de  right   leg,  and 
certain  parts  of  de  body  were  hanging 
'way  over  de  side  of  dat  wagon,  at  de  time." 

"  Ah !  you  tiresome  scamp  !    You  SHALL  answer  me  correctly,  and  I 

will  git  out  of  you  whatever  you  do  know  about  this  case,  if  it  takes 

a  week  to  dig  it  out !  "     Fixing  his  gray  eye  on  Peez,  with  a  steady 

glare  and  with  forefinger  extended,  the  Judge  continued  slowly  :  — 

"  Did  —  you  —  know  —  of  —  any  boy  in  that  cart  or  wagon,  sling- 


THE    TRIAL.  129 

ing  a  stone  or  anything  else  at  anybody  or  anything  ?  Come,  sir ! 
You  're  on  oath,  remember !  Any  stone,  bowlder,  rock,  etc." 

"  Yes,  Massa  Judge,  I  do  know." 

"  Ah,  we  're  getting  at  it  at  last !     Now,  who  was  that  boy  ?  " 

"  I  was  that  boy,  Massa  Judge !  "  (Here  the  other  boys  opened 
their  eyes  with  astonishment.) 

"  You  was  the  boy,  hey  ?     Well,  what  did  you  fire  at,  sir  ?  " 

"  A  chippy,  Massa  Judge,"  replied  Peez. 

"  A  chippy !  "  roared  Justice  Miller.  "  A  chippy  !  Do  you  call  that 
poor  old  man  there  a  chippy,  sir  ?  " 

"  No,  sir !  I  never  slung  anythin'  at  ole  Jillson.  A  chippy  's  a 
bird,  sir  !  " 

"  A  bird,  is  it  ?  Never  mind.  Can  you  solemnly  swear  that  you 
did  not  sling  a  stone,  pebble,  rock,  or  otherwise,  at  the  said  Zedekiah, 
as  he  was  greasing,  anointing,  gudgeonizing,  or  whatever  else  the 
process  is  called  —  the  hinder  wheel  of  his  cart  or  wagon  aforesaid, 
hey?" 

"  No,  I  never  did  it,  Judge.  An  I  ain't  on  trial,  an'  I 's  not  bound 
to  answer  anythin'  to  criminate  myself,  neither,"  replied  Peez  in  a  huff. 

The  Judge  was  quite  nonplussed  by  this  rejoinder,  for  the  black 
boy  was  indeed  not  on  trial,  and  the  question  was  clearly  improper. 

"  P'raps  you  're  right,"  said  his  Honor,  desiring  to  slur  over  this 
little  episode  as  quickly  as  possible.  "  Now  answer  me.  Did  you  see 
that  boy" — pointing  at  Pete  Smart  —  "  sling,  shy,  or  project  any 
thing  at  Zedekiah  Jillson  ?  " 

"  No,  I  never,  Massa  Judge." 

"  Sure  ?  "  continued  the  Judge. 

"  Dead,  Massa  Judge  ;  dead  sure  !  " 

"  What  did  you   see,  then  ;   for  Heaven's  sake,  tell  us  something 

9 


130  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

about  what  you  do  know.     You  are  keeping  the  whole  Court  waiting 
and  subjecting  yourself  to  a  heavy  fine  !  " 

"  Never  you  mind,  Massa  Judge.  I  tells  a  heap  about  what  I  see." 
"  Well,  go  on  and  teU  it !  "  Peez  straightened  up  and  said  :  — 
"  I  was  leaning  and  hanging  out  of  de  wagon  as  I  described,  an'  I 
reached,  so  fashion  (clutching  the  air),  for  a  doughnut  which  Massa 
Pete  had  in  his  hand,  when  one  of  de  boys  saw  a  ( chip '  a  scootin' 
along  the  top  of  de  stone  wall,  an'  '  let  fly '  at  it.  Then  another 
one,  he  i  let  fly '  at  it,  and  then  Al.  Young  he  '  let  fly,'  an'  I  was 
jus'  crammin'  in  the  doughnut  when  I  heard  some  of  the  boys  sing 
out,  '  He  's  comin'  for  us  ! '  an'  away  my  —  f  —  that  is,  the  man  who 
drove  de  wagon  —  away  he  plied  de  whip,  an'  then  all  of  a  sudden, 
we  were  (  fetched  up  standin' '  by  this  crazy  chap  here  (at  this  point 
Mr.  Ahab  Minor  glared  at  Peez),  who  was  a  chasing  us  on  horseback 
as  if  we  had  done  something  wrong.  He  swung  up  his  arms  an' 
stopped  de  team,  an'  when  I  saw  there  was  goin'  to  be  trouble  about 
that  '  chippy,'  away  I  '  streaked  it,'  out  de  tail  of  de  wa^on  and  across 
de  fields,  for  I  did  n't  know  but  that  I  might  be  hung  up  at  de  lamp 
post  for  that  i  chippy,'  an'  that 's  all  I  have  to  say  about  firing  de 
stone  at  ole  Jillson." 

The  patience  of  the  Court  was  now  nearly  exhausted.  He  was  un 
able  to  obtain  any  direct  proof  which  could  fasten  the  crime  on  any 
particular  one  of  the  defendants  in  this  case.  The  old  man  Jillson'a 
testimony  amounted  to  nothing.  His  back  was  turned  to  his  enemy 
when  the  stone  was  slung  at  him,  rendering  it  impossible  to  kn<yw 
who  the  culprit  was. 

Abner  Minor's  evidence  was  a  little  more  definite.  He  clearly 
proved  that  some  one  in  the  wagon  threw  the  stone  at  the  old  man  ; 
who  that  somebody  was,  was  not  so  clear.  He  thought  it  was  Pete 


THE    TRIAL.  131 

Smart,  but  his  testimony  on  this  point  was  only  a  surmise.  As  to  the 
evidence  of  Peez  Fitts,  it  was  —  as  he  meant  it  should  be  —  of  the 
most  irrelevant  character.  The  Judge  could  make  neither  "  head  nor 
tail  "  out  of  any  of  it,  and  so  the  case  remained  unproven.  There 
was  little  doubt  in  the  minds  of  every  one  that  the  old  man  was  hit  by 
a  stone  slung  at  him  by  some  one  of  the  boys  who  had  been  arrested, 
and  were  now  in  the  court-room,  but  there  were  so  few  witnesses  of 
the  act  that  no  evidence  adduced  before  the  Court  had  been  able  to 
fasten  it  upon  any  particular  individual.  For  these  reasons  Mr.  Jus 
tice  Miller  leaned  his  unshaven  chin  upon  his  bony  hand  and  cogitated 
for  some  minutes.  He  was  trying  to  decide  whether  he  would  better 
dismiss  the  case  and  allow  the  youngsters  to  go  unpunished,  or  con 
clude  that  the  evidence  was  such  as  that  a  circumstantial  case  was 
proven,  and  then  allow  the  boys  to  depart  with  a  reprimand  and  a 
light  fine.  He  felt  the  presence  of  Mr.  Reydon  in  the  court-room, 
who  had  remained  quietly  watching  the  progress  of  the  trial.  He 
knew  that  he*was  a  man  of  influence  in  Compton,  and  that  one  of  the 
defendants  was  his  son.  He  was  aware  that  anything  like  injustice 
on  his  part,  in  the  conduct  of  this  case,  would  act  against  his  own  po 
litical  prospects  in  the  village  of  Tuxet,  which  was  so  near  a  neighbor 
to  its  bigger  sister,  Compton.  He  therefore  felt  it  incumbent  to  pro 
ceed  with  great  circumspection. 

Mr.  Reydon  himself  sat  intently  watching  the  proceedings.  He 
was  so  just  a  man  that  he  determined  to  say  nothing,  but  allow  the 
case  to  go  on ;  and  if  it  was  proven  that  his  son  or  any  of  the  other 
boys  had  wilfully  been  guilty  of  the  crime  charged,  they  should  receive 
its  merited  punishment ;  deeming  that  it  would  be  a  profitable  lesson 
to  them.  He  meant,  if  possible,  to  save  them  from  the  mortification 
and  degradation  of  incarceration,  and  stood  prepared,  when  the  time 


132 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


arrived,  to  interfere  in  their  behalf.  Matters  were  in  this  position 
when  a  little  movement  over  in  the  quarter  of  the  room  where  the  boys 
were  stationed  attracted  the  attention  of  the  audience.  It  soon  be 
came  evident  that  Dick  Reydon  was  endeavoring  to  rise  from  his  seat 
and  address  the  Judge.  The  boys  vainly  sought  to  prevent  him,  but 
he  extricated  himself  from  their  grasp,  and  gaining  his  feet,  spoke  as 

follows,  to  the  astonishment  of  all  his 
hearers. 

"  Sir  !  I  'm  not  afraid  to  acknowl 
edge  that  I  slung  the  stone  at  the  old 
gentleman  there.  Pete  Smart  had 
nothing  to  do  with  it.  It  was  I  who 
did  it,  and  if  any  one  is  to  be  pun 
ished,  I  am  the  boy,  and  nobody  else. 
We  were  all  in  fun.  I  didn't  think 
I  could  hit  him,  and  did  n't  believe  it 
would  hurt  him  much  if  I  did.  I  am 
very  sorry  for  it,  and  I  hope  he  will 

soon  get  well.      That 's  all  I  have  to 

?» 
say. 

The  effect  of  Dick's  little  speech  was 
electrifying.  His  manliness  in  getting  up  and  acknowledging  the  act, 
in  order  to  prevent  suspicions  from  resting  upon  any  of  his  compan 
ions,  was  fully  appreciated  by  the  whole  audience  ;  and  by  none  more 
keenly  than  the  stout  young  farmers  whose  sense  of  justice  and  bluff 
manliness  are  proverbial.  A  loud  shout  of  applause,  accompanied  by 
stamping  of  boot-heels,  followed  the  delivery  of  this  heroic  avowal, 
and  it  was  several  minutes  before  order  could  be  restored  by  the  fat 
constable  with  the  wen. 


v 


THE    TRIAL.  133 

Mr.  Justice  Miller  then  straightened  up  his  shirt-collar,  pulled  his 
long  waistcoat  over  his  shrunken  stomach,  and  protruded  both  his 
great  lips  to  indicate  that  the  Court  was  about  to  deliver  its  opinion. 

"  The  evidence  in  this  case,"  said  his  Honor,  "  is  not  so  positive  and 
indisputable  as  it  might,  could,  would,  or  should  have  been.  In  fact, 
it  is  very  vague  and  inconclusive.  There  is,  however,  enough  of  it 
to  prove  that  some  kind  of  missile  was  discharged  at  the  complainant 
from  some  engine,  man-trap,  gin,  or  whatever  the  instrument  may  be 
called,  in  the  hands  of  some  one  of  the  occupants  of  the  cart  or 
wagon,  who  are  the  defendants  in  this  case.  Who  that  particular  oc 
cupant  was  is  not  so  clearly  shown  by  the  evidence  before  the  Court. 
And  although  the  Court  is  morally  sure  that  the  guilty  party  is  among 
the  defendants  here  collected,  yet  the  Court  is  unable  to  fasten  the 
guilt  upon  any  particular  culprit." 

It  therefore  seemed  as  though  the  case  must  be  dismissed. 

"  It  was  this  state  of  affairs  which  caused  the  Court  to  pause  a  mo 
ment  before  delivering  its  opinion,  when  the  unexpected  and  unusual 
occurrence  took  place  which  cleared  the  case  of  all  its  doubt,  and  left 
the  duty  of  the  Court  clear  and  certain.  The  frank  confession  of  one 
of  the  young  defendants  has  settled  the  question.  He  states  to  the 
Court  that  he  fired  the  dreaded  rock  from  his  battering-ram,  engine, 
man-trap,  or  otherwise,  and  inflicted  the  injury  upon  our  poor  and  aged 
friend,  the  complainant  aforesaid.  It  is  not  the  duty  of  this  Court  to 
arg'fy  upon  the  conduct  of  the  young  defendant,  but  simply  to  state 
the  law  in  such  case  and  declare  judgment.  As  Richard  Lyon  Reydon, 
one  ,of  the  defendants  in  this  case,  has  acknowledged  that  he  was  the 
individual  who  inflicted  the  alleged  injury  upon  the  complainant,  and 
that  he  alone  is  guilty  of  the  charge  —  the  judgment  of  this  Court  is, 
that  the  said  Richard  Is  alone  guilty  of  it,  and  must  receive  the  pun- 


134  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

ishment  made  and  provided  for  such  case,  which  is :  That  he  be  fined, 
mulcted,  and  sentenced  to  pay  into  this  Court  the  sum  of  five  dollars 
for  this  infraction  of  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  Town  of  Tuxet. 
Together  with  such  costs  as  have  legally  accrued  in  these  proceed 
ings.  The  rest  of  the  defendants  are  dismissed." 

Mr.  Reydon  here  arose  and  addressed  the  Court. 

"  May  it  please  your  Honor,  —  I  desire,  with  your  permission,  to 
say  a  few  words  in  relation  to  the  case  just  decided.  I  do  not  quar 
rel  with  the  judgment  which  your  Honor  has  been  pleased  to  pass 
upon  my  son,  as  one  of  the  defendants  in  this  case.  I  shall  cheerfully 
pay  the  fine  imposed,  together  with  the  costs  which  have  accumulated. 
I  was  determined  not  to  interfere  in  any  manner,  if  it  was  proven  that 
either  my  son  or  any  of  his  young  companions  were  guilty  of  this 
charge.  Your  Honor,  in  common  with  us  all,  must  be  convinced  that 
this  accident  was  the  natural  result  of  the  thoughtlessness  of  boys  in 
the  exuberance  of  health  and  spirits ;  and  was  not  an  act  of  malice  or 
desire  to  injure  any  one.  I  know  all  of  them  well,  and  can  bear  wit 
ness  to  their  brave  and  kindly  natures.  They  should,  however,  be 
taught  the  lesson  that  even  thoughtlessness  cannot  atone  for  the  injury 
which  may  result  to  others  who  are  aged  and  infirm.  I  wish,  however, 
here,  before  your  Honor,  and  in  presence  of  this  audience,  to  bear  wit 
ness  to  the  gallant  conduct  and  heroic  manliness  of  my  son,  v/ho,  in 
order  to  shield  his  companions  from  unjust  suspicion,  courageously  ac 
knowledged,  before  this  honorable  Court  and  this  assembly,  that  he 
alone  was  guilty,  and  avowed  himself  ready  to  bear  whatever  punish 
ment  should  be  meted  out  to  him.  Such  conduct  in  one  so  young- 
will  bear  good  fruit  in  maturity.  The  aged  complainant  deserves  our 
sympathy  and  pity.  I  shall  make  it  my  pleasant  duty  to  see  that  his 
condition  ^.s  made  as  comfortable  as  possible,  and  I  trust  that  he  will 


THE   TRIAL. 


135 


C- 


forgive  the  author  of  his  injury,  and  come  to  me  whenever  he  is  in 
trouble  or  necessity.  I  thank  your  Honor  for  listening  so  patiently." 

When  Mr.  Reydon  finished,  another  shout  arose  from  the  audience 
which  made  the  old  walls 
ring  merrily.  He  then 
walked  to  the  Judge's 
desk  and  paid  the  fine 
and  required  costs,  with 
a  smile  upon  his  face. 
The  Court  broke  up,  and 
Joshua  and  the  boys, 
Mr.  Reydon  and  Peez, 
walked  out  of  the  court 
room,  to  the  road-side, 
followed  by  an  enthusias 
tic  crowd.  "  The  bays  " 
were  standing  near,  all 
ready  to  start  back  to 
Compton.  Dick  and  his 
friends  "piled"  into 
their  seats,  while  Mr. 
Reydon  turned  Prince's 
head  and  the  old  yellow 
chaise  once  more  towards 

home.  As  they  whirled  away,  the  crowd  sent  up  "  three  cheers  for 
Dick  Reydon  and  his  father ! "  and  three  more  for  "  (  Peez  Arrer,'  the 
smartest  darkey  in  the  world."  The  sound  of  this  pleasing  recogni 
tion  of  their  gallant  conduct  rang  in  the  ears  of  the  thankful  prisoners, 
until  they  turned  down  the  cross-roads  and  into  the  avenue  which  led 
directly  to  Compton  and  liberty. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

A  CRISIS. 


;T  is  important  to  recount  in  this  chapter  that  as  Dick 
and  Peez  grew  in  years  and  stature,  the  circumstances 
also  which  surrounded  them  altered  in  the  same 
proportion. 

The  autumn  when  they  both  became  fifteen, 
or  rather  were  in  their  sixteenth  year,  found 
them  no  longer  the  same  boys  that  presented 
themselves  to  us  when  this  veritable  history  first 
opened.  Dick  was  altogether  too  large  to  re 
main  any  longer  in  Miss  Kamlin's  school.  It  was  important  now  that 
he  should  leave  a  woman's  tutelage,  and  come  under  the  supervision  of 
a  man,  and  one  who  had  great  strength  of  character.  About  that 
time  there  came  to  Compton  a  scholarly-looking  person,  by  the  name 
of  Henly.  He  was  possessed  of  a  good  education,  and,  what  was  bet 
ter,  he  seemed  able  to  impart  his  knowledge  to  others.  He  wore  gold 
spectacles,  and  was  not  in  very  robust  health.  His  grave,  scholarly  de 
meanor,  however,  impressed  his  pupils  with  the  idea  of  a  latent  power 
within  him,  and  so  he  ruled  them  easily  by  the  force  of  his  personality, 
which  is  oftentimes  more  potent  than  the  birch  or  ruler. 

Mr.  Henly  had  a  novel  idea  of  a  school.  He  conceived  the  notion 
that  his  scholars  would  more  easily  acquire  knowledge,  and  his  school 
would  be  more  efficient,  if  two  pupils  occupied  a  study-room  together, 


A    CRISIS. 


137 


and  remained  during  study  hours  separate  from  the  rest  of  their  com 
panions.  To  this  end  he,  with  the  aid  of  his  patrons,  built  in  Comp- 
ton  a  brick  edifice,  circular  in  form,  and  capable  of  holding  fifteen 
little  rooms,  and  a  general  recitation-room  inside  of  all  these.  In  the 
centre  of  this  latter  apart 
ment  was  a  raised  plat 
form,  where  Mr.  Henly 
sat,  and  from  which  posi 
tion  also  he  inspected  his 
scholars,  and  heard  them 
recite  their  lessons. 

Each  alcove  was  pro 
vided  with  a  large  glass 
transom  over  the  door,, 
which  could  be  opened 
and  shut  by  Henly  at  will. 
A  series  of  cords  running 
from  each  of  these  open 
ings  and  meeting  at  one  common  point,  put  within  the  schoolmaster's 
reach  the  power  of  hearing  and  seeing  everything  that  went  on  within 
each  little  chamber.  This  novel  arrangement  had  its  faults  as  well  as 
its  virtues.  While  the  master  was  on  the  alert,  he  could  observe  with 
great  ease  all  that  transpired ;  whereas,  should  his  vigilance  lag,  it  left 
a  large  loop-hole  for  all  manner  of  pranks  and  shirking. 

Mr.  Henly,  as  was  remarked,  was  a  good  teacher.  It  was  in  his 
school  that  Dick  made  considerable  progress  in  other  branches  of 
knowledge  than  merely  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic.  Here  he  read 
"  Caesar's  Commentaries,"  and  here  he  translated  the  five  books  of  Vir 
gil.  Here  he  mastered  Euclid  and  Algebra,  as  far  as  equations  of  the 


138  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

fourth  degree.  He  read  the  New  Testament  in  Latin,  and  commenced 
Greek.  Fifty  years  ago  boys  didn't  "  do  "  so  much  of  the  "  classics" 
as  they  pretend  to  do  nowadays,  but  they  were  pretty  conversant  with 
the  length  of  road  they  did  travel.  Dick  also  accomplished  a  fair 
amount  of  wholesome  reading,  so  that  as  he  neared  his  sixteenth  year, 
he  had  become  a  more  serious  person  than  when  we  first  met  him.  His 
wavy  light  hair  curled  naturally  over  his  Grecian  forehead.  His  gray 
ish  blue  eyes  had  gained  immensely  in  expression.  His  tall,  wiry  figure 
was  erect  with  innate  vitality,  and  his  curved  mouth,  with  its  red,  pout 
ing  under  lip,  gave  him  the  air  of  a  person  of  much  decision.  Peez 
Fitts,  basking  as  it  were  in  the  sunshine  of  Dick's  society,  seemed  to 
imbibe  many  of  the  traits  possessed  by  his  companion  and  master.  He 
wras  a  fine  specimen  of  his  race,  in  spite  of  the  loss  of  his  two  fingers. 
He  was  naturally  clever,  and  had  an  observing  mind.  He  went  to 
school,  where  he  quickly  learned  to  read  and  write.  With  these  ac 
quisitions  he  advanced  in  other  directions  of  learning  quite  rapidly. 
Every  one  of  Dick's  books  was  eagerly  devoured  by  Peez.  Every 
lesson  in  good  breeding  and  conduct  taught  Dick  soon  became  the 
property  of  Peez  by  some  wonderful  process  of  intuition;  so  that 
whether  it  was  a  question  of  propriety,  or  one  which  related  to  dis 
cretion  or  judgment,  Peez  Fitts  was  on  an  equal  footing  with  his  more 
fortunate  friend.  These  particulars  should  be  borne  in  mind  by  the 
reader  in  order  more  readily  to  understand  what  follows.  Those  im 
portant  questions,  namely :  what  was  best  to  be  done  with  Dick, 
whether  he  should  go  to  college  -  -  Yale  or  Harvard  ;  or  whether  it 
would  be  better  to  send  him  out  to  Canton,  to  enter  the  house  of  Rey- 
don  &  Company,  grow  up  in  its  service,  and  become  a  partner,  and  so 
gradually  to  take  his  father's  position  as  he  became  old  and  disabled, 
were  all  steadily  pressing  themselves  upon  the  attention  of  Dick's 
parents,  and  demanding  a  solution. 


A    CRISIS.  139 

Pete  Smart  had  entered  college.  Eben  Tucker  had  gone  into  the 
dry  goods  jobbing  trade,  while  some  of  the  other  boys  were  commenc 
ing  new  departures  in  their  lives.  Independently  of  his  parents,  Dick 
himself  also  conned  the  subject  over  in  his  mind  in  order  to  decide, 
if  possible,  what  he  himself  preferred  to  do.  The  adventure  which 
befell  the  boys  at  Tuxet,  and  the  experience  through  which  they  passed 
when  they  were  brought  before  Justice  Miller,  produced  a  lasting  im 
pression  upon  all  the  participants  in  that  escapade.  And  although  a 
year  had  passed  since  the  events  narrated  in  the  last  chapter,  they 
were  yet  fresh  in  their  minds. 

"  Dick,  how  would  you  like  to  go  to  Canton  ?  "  asked  his  father  one 
morning,  as  his  son  entered  the  breakfast-room. 

"  I  would  like,  sir,  on  some  accounts,  to  go  very  much,"  replied  Dick. 

"  Come,  then,  my  son  !  let  us  hear  the  pros  and  cons  as  they  appear 
to  you !  " 

"  I  have  a  pride,  sir,  in  belonging  to  the  house  of  Reydon  & 
Company,  where  my  father  is  so  important  a  member.  I  would  like 
also  to  make  money,  and  be  independent  of  everybody.  Besides,  it 
is  n't  every  boy  who  has  the  chance  of  getting  ahead  as  I  have,  and  I 
think  I  ought  to  take  advantage  of  it." 

"  Well,  Dick,  these  are  very  good  reasons  indeed  for  your  going. 
Now,  what  have  you  to  advance  against  the  idea  ?  " 

"  The  principal  objections  to  going,  sir,  are  that  I  would  like  to 
enter  college  and  be  there  while  Pete  is.  I  dislike  to  be  absent  so 
many  years  from  home.  And  then  I  have  a  great  notion  of  becoming 
a  lawyer,  and  getting  at  the  head  of  my  profession." 

"  All  these  are  sensible  and  weighty  considerations  Dick,"  replied 
his  father,"  and  you  do  well,  conscientiously  to  weigh  them  in  your 


140 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


judgment  before  final  decision ;  but  there  is  time  for  this  during  the 
coming  winter.  By  spring-time  we  shall  all  be  ready  to  adopt  what 
ever  seems  to  be  the  better  plan."  In  this  way  the  matter  was  left. 
Meanwhile,  Dick  remained  at  Mr.  Henly's  school,  and  increased  in 
strength,  both  of  body  and  character. 

The  law  was  off  in  regard  to  shooting  game.  The  season  was  slowly 
sweeping  on  towards  Thanksgiving  and  roast  turkey,  and  Amanda 
was  busy  preparing  mince  pies  for  Reydon  House,  in  her  snug  and 
warm  kitchen. 

One  morning  after  breakfast  Dick  opened  her  door,  and  poking  in 
his  head  inquired  after  Peez. 

There  stood  the  old  cook  with  bare  arms  and  bandanna-covered 
head,  making  pastry  for  forthcoming  pies. 

It  was  an  interesting  process  to  watch  her  while  engaged  in  this  im 
portant  operation.  After  rubbing 
her  rolling-pin  with  flour,  she  would 
flatten  out  the  dough  on  the  board, 
and  with  a  broken  knife  put  little 
dabs  of  the  best  butter  all  over  its 
surface.  Then  the  whole  quantity 
would  be  doubled  up  on  itself,  cut 
into  big  portions,  and  again  put  to 
gether,  the  process  of  buttering  and 
rolling  being  repeated  ad  injini- 
tum,  as  it  seemed  to  Richard,  as  he 
stood  there  looking  at  it.  All  this 
was  necessary,  in  order  that  when 
the  pastry  came  out  of  the  old-fashioned  oven,  it  should  not  only  be 
brown  and  savory  smelling,  but  present  the  appearance  of  an  infinite 


A    CRISIS.  141 

number  of  delicate  layers  put  together.  After  having  laid  over  each 
pie  the  thinnest  coverlet  of  this  paste,  Amanda  gracefully  held  the 
plate  aloft  in  her  left  hand,  and  with  a  knife  in  the  other,  she  cut  off 
and  off  the  over-hanging  portions,  whirling  the  plate  around  mean 
while,  until  this  superfluous  mass  fell  over  her  arm  like  a  white  collar. 

Richard  was  so  impressed  with  this  sight,  and  Amanda  was  so  ab 
sorbed  in  her  work,  that  it  was  a  minute  or  so  before  he  repeated  his 
question  in  regard  to  the  whereabouts  of  Peez. 

"  Oh,  Massa  Richard  !  is  dat  you  ?  Walk  in  and  see  de  pies. 
There  !  take  a  taste  out  of  de  jar  of  meat  from  de  iron  spoon. 
Say  !  "  she  continued,  "  What  she  needs  —  cider,  bran'y,  or  allspice  ? 
I  jes'  put  de  bran'y  an'  de  fruit  to  it  dis  time,  —  to  please  yer 
fader." 

Dick  approached  the  immense  brown  earthen  jar  containing  that 
most  delicious  of  all  mixtures,  the  prepared  meat  for  mince  pies,  and 
took  out  a  good  big  mouthful  of  it  in  the  old  iron  spoon. 

"  Guy,  Amanda  !  That 's  num-num  !  It  needs  nothing  at  all.  I 
must  have  a  hot  piece  when  they  are  all  cooked !  but  where  's  Peez,  I 
say?" 

"  Lor,  Massa  Richard.  I  los'  my  mem'ry.  Peez  is  readin'  de  book 
you  loan'  him.  I  '11  call  him  to  oust !  Piazzer  !  Piazzer  !  "  cried  his 
mother  at  the  foot  of  the  stair-case.  "  Here  's  Massa  Richard  callin' 
for  ye  ! " 

Soon  afterwards  Peez  appeared  with  one  of  Sir  Walter  Scott's 
novels  in  his  hand,  which  he  had  been  devouring. 

The  object  of  Dick's  call  that  morning  was  to  make  preparations 
for  shooting  woodcock.  He  possessed  a  fine  English  shot-gun,  manu 
factured  by  the  celebrated  "  Manton,"  which  had  been  presented  to 
him  by  his  father,  together  with  all  the  paraphernalia  which  accompa- 


142  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

nies  such  an  acquisition.  Thus  he  was  in  a  position  to  bring  home  a 
"  full  bag."  Peez  set  himself  to  work  cleaning  the  fowling-piece,  and 
also  oiling  up  the  old  "  shooting-iron  "  belonging  to  his  father  Joshua. 
This  was  an  ancient  weapon,  once  the  property  of  a  captain  in  the 
Candace,  a  veteran  East  India  ship,  owned  by  Mr.  Reydon.  It  had 
been  kept  in  the  cabin  of  that  vessel  against  some  possible  mutiny 
which  never  occurred.  In  time  it  was  taken  out  of  its  hiding-place, 
and  found  its  way  into  the  hands  of  Joshua  Fitts,  Mr.  Reydon's  coach 
man,  one  of  the  most  harmless  and  un-murderous  of  men. 

The  shot-pouches,  with  number  eight  shot  for  woodcock ;  the  pow 
der  flasks,  rilled  to  their  fullest  extent ;  and  a  plentiful  supply  of 
wads  (which  Dick  had  spent  hours  in  cutting  out  of  thick  cardboard), 
were  all  made  ready  for  to-morrow's  sport. 

There  was  a  large  tract  of  country,  covered  with  underbrush  and 
wood,  about  eight  miles  from  Compton,  where  the  initiated  hunter 
could  have  a  fair  chance  for  sport. 

Dick  did  not  pretend  to  be  an  experienced  sportsman.  He  took 
pride,  however,  in  knowing  something  about  the  matter,  and  his  aim 
was  to  do  the  "  proper  thing  "  when  he  attempted  it  at  all.  He  was  a 
stout  boy,  with  a  quick  eye  and  steady  nerves.  These  two  qualities 
enable  even  a  tyro  to  bring  down  his  bird  with  a  good  deal  of  surety. 

Early  on  the  morning  following  that  in  which  Dick  had  proposed 
the  excursion,  the  two  young  men  arose  early,  and  were  out  at  the 
stable  putting  Old  Prince  in  the  yellow  chaise.  Prince  was  a  gray 
horse,  with  dapple  spots  on  his  flanks.  He  had  a  black  muzzle,  the 
same  colored  mane  and  tail,  and  black  points.  If  occasion  required, 
Prince  could  dash  over  the  roads  and  make  his  ten  miles  within 
the  hour,  and  was  a  most  valuable  servant  in  the  Reydon  family. 
Prince  looked  round  with  astonishment  at  being  taken  from  his 


A    CRISIS. 


143 


warm  and  snug  quarters  at  so  early  an  hour.  He  drew  a  long  breath 
as  the  boys  threw  the  harness  over  his  back,  champed  his  bits  a  mo 
ment  as  if  to  get  them  in  the  right  position  in  his  mouth,  and  whisked 
his  tail,  as  much  from  habit  as  from  any  annoying  fly  —  it  being  too 
late  in  the  season  for  these  bothers.  He  then  stood  motionless  in  the 
shafts  while  the  guns  and  the  "  kit "  were  stowed  away  in  the  chaise 
and  in  the  box  under  the  seat.  In  the  bottom  of  the  vehicle  lay  Old 
Hal,  the  dog.  He  was  the  faithful  companion  of  the  boys  whenever 


they  went  off  for  any  fun.  This  intelligent  old  creature  was  part  collie 
and  part  English  terrier.  He  did  n't  pretend  to  be  a  sporting  dog,  but 
he  did  pretend  to  kill  a  woodchuck  in  just  three  minutes.  He  could 
point  a  bird  as  well  as  many  a  pure-blooded  setter,  and  retrieve  the 
game  after  it  was  shot,  without  injuring  a  feather. 

The  good  fellow,  too,  would  "  charge  "  beautifully,  after  he  had 
"  flushed  "  a  bird,  and  wait  for  the  order  to  "  fetch"  as  well  as  if  his 
pedigree  was  as  long  as  your  arm. 


144  TWO   COM P TON  BOYS. 

Old  Hal  lay  with  his  rough  nose  resting  on  his  crossed  paws,  wait- 
ing  for  Dick  and  Peez  to  mount  and  be  off. 

Prince  with  the  yellow  chaise  at  last  trotted  out  through  the  wide 
gateway,  and  over  the  clattering  cohble-stones  with  which  the  court 
yard  was  paved.  They  took  a  westerly  direction,  and  passing  by  the 
slaughter-house,  the  home  of  Mike  Taggart,  skirted  along  the  road  on 
which  the  still  decaying  old  tomb,  —  never  to  be  forgotten,  —  was 
situated ;  and  so  on,  away  out  into  the  sparsely-settled  and  wooded 
country  of  Cituate  Hill. 

The  boys  finally  stopped  at  a  pair  of  bars,  whence  a  rocky  pathway 
led  over  a  little  brook,  and  then  up  through  thick  underbrush  to  a 
tangled  thicket  of  young  oaks  and  chestnuts.  There  was  a  low,  one- 
story  gambrel-roofed  red  house  near  these  bars,  at  the  door  of  which 
appeared  the  kindly  face  of  an  old  woman,  and  another  younger  per 
son  with  a  baby  in  her  arms.  The  boys  seemed  to  be  acquainted  with 
these  people,  if  one  could  judge  from  the  familiar  conversation  which 
passed  between  them.  After  securely  tying  Prince,  Dick  and  Peez 
unloaded  the  chaise,  shouldered  their  guns,  whistled  to  the  dog,  and 
disappeared  behind  a  thicket  of  alders,  which  grew  on  the  other  side  of 
the  bars. 

They  crossed  the  little  brook  which  rippled  just  in  front  of  them. 
The  late  October  sun  came  slanting  through  the  trees  with  its  yellow 
light,  and  the  falling  leaves  crushed  under  their  feet  with  a  lively 
crackle. 

With  guns  resting  in  the  hollow'  of  their  left  arms,  or  carried  easily 
in  their  right,  and  with  finger  on  trigger,  the  two  boys  strode  care 
fully  forward,  ears  and  eyes  wide  open  to  take  advantage  of  any  enemy 
which  Old  Hal  might  start  up. 

In  this  way  they  gradually  worked  their  way  three  or  four  miles 


A    CRISIS. 


145 


through  the  thick  woods  which  surrounded  them  on  every  side.  Sud 
denly  the  dog  struck  some  sort  of  a  scent.  He  sprang  ahead  with 
great  energy,  and  leaping  over  the  dead  trunks  of  trees  and  tan 
gled  briers,  commenced  digging  among  the  rocks  and  stones  which 
lay  in  great  heaps  around. 
The  boys  knew  at  once  that 
it  was  some  other  creature 
than  a  woodcock  which  had 
so  excited  Old  Hal's  atten 
tion.  So  they  rushed  to  the 
spot  where  the  dog  was  bark 
ing  and  tearing  away  the 
turf  with  his  teeth  and  paws. 
Sure  enough,  a  huge  wood- 
chuck  was  heard  chattering 
inside  his  retreat,  betokening 
defiance  and  fight,  when  he 
should  finally  be  unearthed. 
The  dog  scratched  up  the 
earth  and  barked  away,  while 
the  boys  encouraged  his  ef 
forts  by  removing  the  larger  stones  which  served  as  cover  from  his 
cruel  enemy. 

There  is  something  vindictive  in  the  chase  by  boys  of  an  innocent 
animal  like  the  woodchuck.  The  excuse  they  give  is  that  these  crea 
tures  ruin  the  vegetables  and  small  truck  of  a  farmer's  garden.  This 
we  suppose  to  be  true  ;  yet  it  is  a  poor  reason  why  they  should  be 
hounded  to  death  in  the  depths  of  a  wood,  and  so  many  miles  away 
from  any  man's  garden  or  field.  The  moral  aspect  of  this  question  is 


10 


146 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


entirely  overlooked  in  the  excitement  which  is  sure  to  arise  when  a 
dog  has  tracked  a  woodchuck  to  his  hole,  or  headed  him  off  so  that 
he  retreats  to  a  pile  of  rocks.  Then  it  is  that  the  excitement  of  the 
chase  supplants  any  feeling  of  humanity  which  might  sway  a  person  in 
his  calmer  moments,  and  everything  is  surrendered  to  the  impulse  of 
the  occasion.  The  boys  aided  the  dog's  efforts  to  dislodge  the  little 
animal,  as  if  their  lives  depended  upon  it,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
Old  Hal  had  reached  and  "  tackled  "  his  foe.  It  took  but  a  few  ter 
rific  shakes  in  the  dog's  power 
ful  iaws,  and  the  back  of  the 
animal  was  broken,  and  it  lay 
dead  at  the  feet  of  its  enemies. 
There  was  nothing  more  to  be 
done  than  to  secure  their  prize 
as  best  they  could.  This  was 
accomplished  by  suspending  it 
by  the  tail  to  the  limb  of  a  tree. 
Here  it  was  proposed  to  leave  it, 
so  as  to  take  it  home  on  their 
return  to  the  chaise. 

Accordingly,  Dick  secured  the 
woodchuck  to  the  overhanging 
branch  of  a  spreading  maple, 
and  left  him  dangling  in  the  air. 
The  effect  upon  the  boys  of  this  incident  —  which  was  the  first  of 
the  day  —  naturally  exhibited  itself  in  their  quickened  step  and  excited 
conversation.  The  dog  kept  a  little  in  advance,  sniffing  from  side  to 
side,  and  continually  wagging  his  tail  like  any  well-bred  animal  ; 
while  the  boys  stepped  cautiously  behind,  with  expectant  tread. 


A    CRISIS.  147 

"  Look,  Massa  Dick  !  "  said  Peez.  "  Hal 's  a  pointin'  somethin', 
sure !  "  There  stood  the  mongrel,  with  his  forepaw  up,  and  trembling 
all  over  as  if  he  was  standing  for  his  portrait.  They  quietly  moved 
on,  one  pace  at  a  time,  while  the  dog  also  advanced  with  the  same 
caution. 

All  at  once,  —  "  Whir-r-r  !  Whir-r-r  !  "  was  heard  in  their  front, 
and  a  brace  of  splendid  woodcock  took  wing  with  a  great  flurry,  and 
skimmed  through  the  trees  like  a  flash.  Bang !  Bang  !  went  both 
the  guns,  almost  instantaneously,  while  one  of  the  birds  fell  headlong 
in  a  neighboring  thicket,  and  the  other  continued  his  flight  out  of  the 
reach  of  harm. 

"  Gosh !  you  've  got  him,  Massa  Dick,"  cried  Peez.  "  Fetch  him, 
Hal !  Go  for  him,  boy  !  "  and  the  old  dog  bounded  forward  like  a 
veteran,  and  soon  after  emerged  from  the  thick  brush  with  a  long- 
billed  beauty  held  lightly  in  his  teeth.  In  this  manner  the  day  wore 
on,  the  young  sportsmen  having  succeeded  in  shooting  four  woodcock 
and  a  brace  of  quail.  It  was  now  time  for  luncheon.  The  exercise  of 
the  morning  had  made  both  of  Dick's  cheeks  burn  with  a  crimson 
glow,  while  Peez's  countenance  also  was  undoubtedly  in  the  same 
wholesome  condition,  if  one  could  but  look  under  his  black  skin. 

The  boys  chose  the  trunk  of  an  immense  chestnut  which  had  fallen 
across  their  path,  for  their  dinner-table.  Here  they  unfolded  the  tiny 
parcel  which  Amanda  had  prepared,  and  never  before  did  cold  corn- 
beef  and  bread  and  butter  taste  better.  From  time  to  time  they 
treated  the  old  dog  with  some  delicate  morsels,  so  that,  after  their 
half-hour's  rest,  the  whole  party  felt  entirely  refreshed. 

It  was  two  o'clock,  and  it  was  tune  to  think  of  returning.  They 
were  on  an  elevated  and  thickly-wooded  plateau,  some  two  miles  from 
where  they  had  left  Prince  and  the  yellow  chaise.  The  path,  down 


148 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


which  they  were  to  retrace  their  steps,  was  entangled  and  rough ;  and 
several  stone  walls  and  awkward  rail-fences  were  to  be  encountered  be 
fore  they  could  reach  the  bars.  Each  of  the  boys  loaded  his  gun,  to 
be  ready  for  any  game  he  might  encounter ;  and  so  they  turned  their 
faces  once  more  in  the  direction  of  the  little  house  by  the  roadside. 
^  Dick  walked  a  bit  in  front  of 

the  dog,  followed  closely  by 
Peez,  who  carried  on  his  back 
some  extra  weight  in  the  shape 
of  a  shot -pouch  and  a  spare 
powder-flask. 

They  had  successfully  accom 
plished  two  thirds  of  their  jour 
ney,  when  there  occurred  a  most 
distressing  accident,  the  result 
of  which  was,  not  only  to  de 
finitely  settle  the  vexed  question 
of  Dick's  choice  of  profession  ; 
but  also  to  completely  change 
the  whole  aspect  of  life  at  Rey- 
don  House.  They  had  reached  the  spot  where  the  woodchuck  hung 
suspended  from  the  tree.  Dick,  being  in  advance,  detached  him  from 
the  limb,  and  went  on  towards  the  last  rail-fence,  where  both  the  boys 
paused  a  moment.  Peez  got  over  first,  so  as  to  take  from  Dick  the 
different  articles  which  constituted  their  luggage.  The  woodchuck 
was  safely  landed  first.  Then  came  the  birds  and  the  ammunition. 
After  these,  Dick's  valuable  gun  was  poked  over  to  Peez,  who  carefully 
received  and  deposited  it  in  a  safe  place. 

"  There,  Peez,  now  take  your  old  shooting-iron,"  said  Dick,  hand- 


A    CRISIS. 


149 


ing  up  the  ancient  fowling-piece.  "  I  '11  buy  you  a  new  one,  some 
day." 

"  Oh,  Massa  Dick,  she 's  good  yet.  I  killed  the  most  birds  with 
her,  any  how  ;  did  n't  I  ?  " 

"  That 's  so  !  "  said  Dick.  "  Take  care  —  she  's  loaded,  you  know  !  " 
Peez  took  the  gun  by  the  muzzle  and  began  pulling  it  through  the 
rails  and  tangled  brush  without  much  care.  The  hammer  got  caught, 
and  by  some  unlucky  accident  exploded  the  cap,  discharging  the  whole 

contents   into   the   chest 

[i         '  •        <  ' 

and  shoulders  of  poor 
Peez,  who  was  thrown 
by  the  concussion  sev 
eral  feet,  and  lay  on  his 
back  bleeding  and  ap 
parently  lifeless.  Noth 
ing  could  have  been 
more  unfortunate.  The 
boys  were  yet  a  good 
half  mile  from  the  road. 
The  path,  although  down 
hill,  was  strewed  with 
rocks  and  fallen  trees. 
Peez  was  utterly  helpless, 
and,  for  aught  Dick 
knew,  was  dead,  and  there  was  no  way  either  of  obtaining  relief  foi* 
him,  or  of  conveying  him  to  a  spot  where  he  could  be  cared  for.  All 
these  facts  presented  themselves  to  Dick  the  instant  the  shot  was 
fired.  He  leapt  over  the  fence  like  a  fairy,  and  ran  to  the  spot  where 
Peez  lay  bleeding  and  moaning.  The  line  of  the  shot  seemed  to  have 


150  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

been  at  an  angle  with  the  body,  and  had  torn  away  the  shoulder,  and 
partly  lodged  itself  in  the  right  breast.  If  it  had  taken  effect  full 
in  front,  it  must  have  killed  the  boy  outright.  Dick  knelt  down  and 
placed  his  hand  on  Peez's  heart  to  ascertain  if  it  were  throbbing. 
This  he  found  to  be  the  case,  but  his  eyes  were  half  closed,  and  his 
whole  body  was  convulsed  from  time  to  time. 

Blood  was  oozing  from  his  wounds,  and  altogether  Dick  was  at  his 
wits'  end  to  know  what  to  do. 

"  Are  you  dead,  Peez  ?  Open  your  eyes,  boy  !  Tell  me  if  you 
know  me ! "  Dick  would  ejaculate  from  time  to  time,  while  he  carefully 
undid  his  clothing  in  order  to  discover  the  extent  of  his  injuries. 
When  the  breast  and  shoulder  were  laid  bare,  they  presented  a  sicken 
ing  appearance.  A  great  portion  of  the  muscle  was  a  mass  of  gore, 
while  ugly  wounds  in  the  chest  suggested  the  grievous  and  desperate 
condition  of  the  poor  black  boy. 

Dick  first  endeavored  to  staunch  the  flowing  of  the  blood  with  his 
handkerchief,  but  this  was  not  sufficient.  He  then  had  no  other  re 
source  but  to  tear  the  lining  from  his  coat,  and  with  this,  and  Peez's 
*-own  handkerchief,  he  managed  to  arrest  the  hemorrhage  in  some  de 
gree.  All  this  while  Peez  gave  but  few  signs  of  life.  A  low  groan 
from  time  to  time,  and  a  convulsive  shudder,  were  the  only  symptoms 
that  life  was  still  in  him.  Dick  hallooed  for  help,  but  it  was  an  use 
less  task,  situated,  as  they  were,  in  such  dense  woods. 

What  was  to  be  done  ?  It  would  not  do  to  leave  Peez  in  this  help 
less  condition  and  go  for  assistance,  because  he  might  die  before  his 
return.  This  was  indeed  a  sorry  plight  for  poor  Dick,  who,  as  he  went 
about,  was  unable  to  refrain  from  tears,  out  of  apprehension  for  his 
poor  comrade's  safety. 

"  What  can  I  do  ?  "  he  repeated  to  himself.     "  I  can't  and  won't 


A    CRISIS. 


161 


leave  poor  Peez  here.  I  '11  get  him  to  the  little  cottage,  if  I  die.  I  '11 
just  shoulder  him  down  to  the  bars.  It  's  too  bad  that  I  'in  all  alone 
here,  but  I  '11  do  it,  you  see  if  I  don't !  "  Talking  thus  to  this  imag 
inary  person,  which  seemed  to  give  him  a  strange  sort  of  comfort, 
Dick  raised  his  wounded  friend  in  his  strong  and  youthful  arms 
and  dragged  his  almost  life 
less  body  over  the  bowlders, 
and  mounds  of  decaying 
vegetation,  down  towards  the 
little  red  house  near  the  bars. 
The  dead  weight  upon  Dick's 
back  became  intolerable. 
Nearly  breathless,  he  man 
aged  at  last  to  reach  the  crys 
tal  brook  with  his  quivering 
load.  He  could  go  no  farther. 
He  laid  poor  Peez  on  its 
brink,  and  rushing  away  into 
the  stream  brought  up  in  his 
cap  a  quantity  of  its  cooling 
waters.  With  this  he  bathed 
the  black  boy's  fevered  brow, 
and  moistened  his  parched  lips.  Peez  opened  his  eyes  after  this  re 
freshment,  and  managed  to  articulate,  "  Thank  you,  Massa  Dick." 

"  Wait  here,"  cried  Dick,  as  if  the  boy  could  move  a  muscle.  "  Don't 
move,  my  boy  !  I  '11  return  in  a  minute !  I  must  call  somebody ! 
Don't  worry,  Peez.  I  'm  coming  right  back  !  "  With  that  Dick  ran, 
we  could  almost  say  flew,  towards  the  farm-house  for  assistance. 

His  agonizing  tale  brought  to  his  aid  the  young  farmer,  who  was 


152  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

closely  followed  by  his  kind-hearted  wife  and  her  sympathizing  mother. 
By  their  cooperation  Peez  was  carried  tenderly  into  the  kitchen  of  the 
cottage,  and  laid  on  the  lounge  just  under  the  front  windows,  where 
the  blue  lilacs  and  the  yellow  sunflowers  were  peeking  in  at  him  from 
the  outside.  There  the  wounded  boy  lay,  with  his  head  resting  on  a 
pillow,  breathing  heavily. 

The  young  farmer  consented  to  drive  to  Compton  for  a  physician. 
Meanwhile  Dick  stationed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  couch,  and  ad 
ministered  to  Peez  soothing  palliatives,  and  spoonfuls  of  brandy  a*nd 
water  from  time  to  time.  The  flow  of  blood  was  partially  arrested, 
or  else  the  boy  might  have  bled  to  death.  But  the  case  was  so  critical 
a  one,  that  everybody  in  the  little  kitchen  who  stood  about  the  couch 
of  Peez  feared  that  the  physician  would  come  too  late.  Dr.  Possett 
at  length  arrived,  in  company  with  Mr.  Reydon,  who  had  learned  of 
the  accident,  and  hastened  to  the  spot.  It  was  first  reported  that 
Dick  was  the  sufferer,  but  the  young  farmer  set  the  father's  mind  at 
rest  on  that  point.  Yet  he  was  greatly  distressed  to  find  that  Dick's 
companion,  and  Joshua's  son,  was  in  such  grievous  straits. 

"  What  was  the  extent  of  the  injury  ?  "  was  a  serious  question  for 
the  Doctor  to  answer.  It  was  found  impossible  to  move  the  wounded 
boy  that  night,  so,  as  Dick  refused  to  leave  him,  Mr.  Reydon  at  last 
decided  to  return  to  Compton,  and  then  come  back  again  in  the  morn 
ing  with  an  easy  carriage,  to  be  ready  to  transport  the  unfortunate 
boy,  if  it  were  possible,  to  his  own  home. 

The  Doctor  thought  at  first  his  arm  must  be  amputated,  and  feared 
also  that  as  so  many  shot  had  penetrated  the  chest,  some  might  even 
have  entered  the  cavity  of  the  chest  itself.  Of  this  he  could  not  be 
sure  until  the  swelling  of  the  parts  had  somewhat  subsided,  and  the 
state  of  the  patient  was  such  as  would  make  a  more  thorough  examina 
tion  feasible. 


A    CRISIS. 


153 


The  surgeon  dressed  his  shattered  limb,  and  took  from  his  breast 
eight  or  ten  shot,  which  could  be  reached  with  his  probe.  He  found 
no  great  artery  severed,  but  several  large  veins  had  been  terribly  lacer 
ated.  Bandaged  and  bathed,  with  camphor  to  his  nose  and  hot  bottles 
to  his  feet,  the  night  closed  in  with  the  chances  of  Peez'  living  rather 
poor.  He  had,  however,  returned  to  partial  consciousness.  The  tall 
clock  in  the  corner  of  the  kitchen  went  steadily  on  "  tick-tacking," 
while  Dick  and  Dr.  Possett  watched  the  wounded  boy,  performing  the 
offices  of  nurse  and  surgeon,  and  anxiously  awaiting  the  morning  light. 
At  one  time  during 
the  night  Dick  felt  ^ 

sure  that  Peez  was  dy- 
i  n  g  ,  On  awakening 
from  sleep  he  found 
him  in  a  terrible  con 
dition.  His  wounds 
had  broken  out  afresh. 
A  wan  and  death-like 
pallor  shrouded  his 
dark  features.  His 
nostrils  were  distend 
ed,  and  his  puise  was 
extremely  weak.  Dick  was  frightened,  and  summoned  Dr.  Possett  to 
the  couch. 

"  I  fear  Peez  is  dying,"   said  the  Doctor. 

"  Oh,  Doctor,  don't  say  so  !  —  It  can't  be.  —  My  old  playmate.  — 
I  can't  let  him  die  !  " 

"  Hold  the  hartshorn  to  his  nose,  while  I  try  and  staunch  the  blood/' 
continued  Dr.  Possett. 


154  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

Dick  obeyed,  while  the  surgeon  undid  the  bandages  preparatory  to 
a  new  dressing. 

It  was  an  anxious  half  hour,  during  which  the  operation  of  binding 
up  the  wounds  went  on.  A  single  candle  shed  a  sickly  glow  over  the 
head  and  shoulders  of  poor  Peez,  while  the  Doctor  and  Dick  Reydon 
bent  over  him.  They  had  the  satisfaction  at  length  to  see  the  boy 
open  his  eyes,  and  a  feeble  smile  illumined  his  friendly  face  as  he 
recognized  Dick  beside  his  pillow. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

CONCLUSION. 

UNRISE  found  the  young  sufferer  in  a  piti 
able  condition.  The  day  succeeding  such 
an  accident  as  befell  Peez  Fitts  is  always  a 
most  distressing  one.  Perfect  consciousness 
generally  returns,  and  with  it  a  realization 
of  lassitude,  stiffness,  and  all  the  painful 
helplessness  attendant  upon  a  grievous  in 
jury.  Peez  could  scarcely  raise  his  head  from  the  pillow  ;  and  for 
fear  of  a  fresh  hemorrhage,  his  removal  to  Compton  was  considered 
imprudent. 

On  the  third  day,  however,  the  physician  decided  to  make  the  at 
tempt.  To  that 
end  the  old  fam 
ily  carriage  of  Mr. 
Reydon  was  sent 
for  by  Dick.  A 
mattr  ess  was 
placed  across  the 
seats  of  this, 
upon  which  the 
wounded  boy  lay. 
Dick  entered  and 


156  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

sat  beside  him,  while  Joshua,  his  father  (winking  his  eyes  from  time 
to  time,  to  rid  them  of  big  tears  which  would  gather  there),  carefully 
drove  his  precious  load.  It  took  two  good  hours  for  the  carriage 
to  reach  Amanda's  little  house.  The  best  room  was  well  aired,  and  a 
fire  put  on  the  hearth  to  take  off  the  chill.  The  checked  counter 
pane  of  the  bed  was  carefully  thrown  back  over  the  foot-board,  and 
poor  Peez  was  at  length  safely  deposited  in  the  arms  of  Amanda,  his 
mother. 

We  will  not  dwell  too  long  on  the  circumstances  of  this  unfortunate 
accident.  It  proved,  however,  to  be  the  turning-point  in  the  fortunes 
of  Dick  Reydon.  In  the  first  place,  Peez's  condition  was  so  delicate 
and  precarious  that  it  took  months  before  it  was  certain  that  he  would 
live.  Inflammation  of  the  lungs,  attacks  of  erysipelas,  and  a  sort 
of  slow  fever,  alternately  threatened  his  existence.  The  connection 
between  these  two  boys  was  so  unique,  and  their  relations  together  so 
peculiar,  that  the  case  must  be  judged  on  its  own  merits,  and  not 
according  to  the  general  rules  governing  such  matters.  Nowadays, 
and  in  large  cities,  such  rather  unnatural  intimacies  are  impossible  ; 
but  in  towns  like  Compton,  fifty  years  ago,  they  were  not  only  pos 
sible,  but  common.  If  circumstances  had  not  been  such  as  to  have 
constantly  thrown  the  two  youths  together  ;  if  Peez  had  not  been 
the  son  of  Joshua,  and  Joshua  had  not  been  Mr.  Reydon's  coachman, 
why  then  there  would  have  been  no  lasting  friendship  between  them, 
and  therefore  no  history  to  relate ;  but  the  facts  being  as  they  were, 
the  story  we  are  narrating  follows  as  a  matter  of  course. 

As  spring  approached,  it  found  Dr.  Possett  calling  one  day  at  Rey 
don  House,  on  Dick's  mother.  In  the  course  of  their  conversation, 
she  asked  the  Doctor  concerning  Amanda's  son. 


CONCLUSION.  157 

"  He  is  in  a  very  critical  condition,  Mrs.  Reydon,"  replied  Dr.  Pos- 
sett.  "  If  he  had  the  means,  I  should  certainly  advise  his  taking  a 
sea-voyage,  as  the  only  thing  I  can  see  which  may  restore  him  to  per 
fect  health.  I  presume,  however,  that  such  a  course  would  be  out  of 
the  question  on  the  score  of  expense ;  so  the  poor  fellow  will  have  to 
take  his  chances." 

«s 

"  It  is  very  strange,  Doctor,"  observed  Mrs.  Reydon,  "  the  wonder 
ful  affection  which  our  Dick  has  for  Peez." 

"  I  never  saw  anything  like  it,"  replied  the  Doctor. 

"  Ever  since  they  were  the  smallest  children,  this  intimacy  has  been 
going  on,"  said  Mrs.  Reydon.  "  But  he  is  a  fine  boy,  and  I  don't 
know  that  I  have  the  least  objection  to  it.  You  know,  Doctor,  he  is 
the  son  of  our  coachman,  and  his  mother,  Amanda,  is  one  of  the  best 
of  women,  and  has  been  our  cook  for  the  past  fifteen  years." 

"  Yes,  I  know  it,"  answered  Doctor  Possett.  "  My  son  has  told  me 
often  how  popular  the  black  boy  was  among  the  youth  of  Compton ; 
and  also  of  his  bravery  and  good  conduct  on  several  trying  occasions." 

"  I  mean  to  talk  with  Mr.  Reydon,  Doctor,  and  see  if  something 
can't  be  done  for  poor  Peez,  —  if  only  for  Dick's  sake." 

"  A  sea-voyage  is  the  only  thing  which  will  save  his  life,  mad'm," 
said  the  Doctor,  as  he  bade  Mrs.  Reydon  good-morning,  and  got  into 
his  C-spring  chaise. 

Dick  found  out  what  the  physician  had  told  his  mother,  which  set 
him  to  thinking  very  seriously  about  his  own  prospects. 

The  next  morning,  after  breakfast,  just  as  Mr.  Reydon  was  pulling 
on  his  well-blacked  boots,  which  Joshua  had  brought  from  the  kitchen 
and  placed  on  the  rug  before  the  fender,  Dick  lingered  in  the  room, 
and  at  last  said,  —  "  Father,  I  've  decided  at  last  what  I  want  to  do." 

"  Ah,  my  son !  "  said  Mr.   Reydon,  looking   up  rather  astonished, 


158 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


while  his  fingers  dallied  in  the  straps,  and  his  right  foot  was  all  ready 
to  be  thrust  into  his  boot.     "  What  is  your  decision  ?  " 
"  I  have  decided  to  go  to  Canton,  sir  !  " 

Mr.  Reydon's  eye  lighted  up  with  ill-concealed  gratification  at  this 

announcement,  because  he  se 
cretly  desired  his  only  son  to 
succeed  him  in  his  East  India 
business ;  yet  he  determined 
to  allow  matters  to  take  their 
course,  and  abide  by  whatever 
Dick  at  last  determined  upon. 
"  This  is  a  great  and  impor 
tant  move,  —  the  greatest  of 
your  life,"  replied  his  father. 
"  Go  and  tell  your  mother 
about  it !  " 

Mrs.  Reydon  had  long  feared 
that   this   would    be    the   ulti 
mate  result    of  Dick's  cogita 
tions,  and  so  had  nerved  her 
self  to  bear  the  announcement  whenever  he  should  make  it. 

All  his  mother  did,  when  Dick  ran  up-stairs  and  told  her  his  deci 
sion,  was  to  fold  him  gently  in  her  arms  and  say,  amid  her  sobbing, 
"  God  bless  you,  my  dear  boy.  I  shall  never  stand  in  the  way  of  what 
is  considered  to  be  for  your  best  good." 

After  this,  the  subject  was  freely  talked  about  as  a  natural  and  in 
evitable  event.  Dick  was  to  start  for  Canton  in  the  spring,  in  the  Ann 
and  Hope,  Captain  Towers,  which  would  sail  from  India  Point,  on 
the  first  of  April.  He  told  his  father  that  Peez  must  go  with  him. 


CONCLUSION. 


159 


Said  he,  "  I  can  never  leave  Compton  and  all  I  hold  so  dear,  without 
my  old  playmate,  Peez  !  It  will  not  only  make  me  contented,  but  will, 
I  am  sure,  completely  restore  Peez  to  health  again."  This  then  was 
also  settled,  and  the  time  between  the  New  Year  and  the  date  of  sail 
ing  was  taken  up  in  the  necessary  preparations  for  so  long  and  event 
ful  a  separation. 

When  leaving  home,  every  boy,  who  has  an  affectionate  mother,  will 
remember  how  untiring  she  was  in  her  exertions  to  make  him  comfort 
able  ;  how  early  she  arose,  and 
how  late  she  went  to  bed,  in 
her  anxiety  to  neglect  nothing 
which  might  add  to  her  son's 
comfort.  Dick's  mother  was 
one  of  the  most  loving,  old- 
fashioned,  and  devoted  of 
parents.  From  day  to  day 
she,  with  her  maid,  quietly 
gathered  together  a  heap  of 
articles  which  Dick  might 
find  both  necessary  and  com 
fortable  in  his  foreign  resi 
dence. 

Double  sets  of  under-cloth 
ing  marked  with  his  initials,  R.  L.  R.,  and  dozens  of  socks  and  woollen 
mittens,  —  if  it  should  be  cold  in  China.  Besides  all  these,  a  little 
calico  bag,  containing  oceans  of  needles  and  pins,  tape  and  buttons, 
thread  and  bees-wax,  a  thimble  and  a  pair  of  scissors,  an  emery  bag 
and  a  pincushion.  This  convenient  reticule  was  a  peculiarly  thought 
ful  and  mother-like  present.  Whenever  Dick  made  use  of  it  in  the  far- 


160  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

off  chamber  of  his  Eastern  home,  tears  would  fill  his  eyes  at  thought 
of  the  donor. 

A  solid  leather  trunk  was  purchased  in  New  York,  which  was  just 
fitted  to  go  under  the  berth  in  his  little  cabin  in  the  Ann  and  Hope. 
Peez  sat  up  now  every  day,  and  already  exhibited  signs  of  ultimate  re 
covery.  He  counted  the  hours  when,  as  Dick's  body-servant,  he  might 
be  of  service  in  his  final  preparations.  There  were  no  ocean  steamers 
when  Dick  Reydon  went  to  Canton.  Every  journey  by  sea  was  made 
in  sailing-vessels,  and  voyages,  which  now  are  accomplished  in  forty 
days,  then  occupied  more  than  three  times  that  number.  Besides,  there 
was  comparatively  so  little  foreign  traveling  then,  that  the  fact  of  a 
young  man's  starting  off  for  Canton  was  a  great  event  in  Compton. 

All  sorts  of  good  people  called  upon  Mrs.  Reydon  with  recipes  for 
sea-sickness,  and  medicine  suitable  for  an  East  Indian  climate.  One 
old  lady  brought  a  small  bag  of  camphor,  which  was  to  be  hung 
around  Dick's  neck  to  ward  off  the  cholera ;  another  left  a  strip  of 
red  flannel,  to  be  wrapped  about  his  body  as  a  preventive  against  Afri 
can  fever ;  and,  finally,  a  neighbor's  child  left  at  the  door  a  piece  of 
alum  in  a  paper  for  "  Mr.  Richard,  when  he  had  canker." 

All  these  offerings  were  tender  expressions  of  regard,  which  the 
friends  and  townspeople  in  Compton  felt  for  Dick  Reydon. 

The  list  of  people,  upon  whom  he  was  to  call  before  he  sailed,  began 
to  assume  alarming  proportions. 

The  Ann  and  Hope  was  one  of  those  old-fashioned,  bulging,  slow- 
sailing  crafts,  of  great  carrying  capacity,  which  ploughed  the  ocean 
fifty  or  sixty  years  ago.  Speed  was  not  so  much  an  element  of 
mercantile  success  in  those  days.  The  old  East  Indiaman  of  half  a 
century  ago  took  her  own  time  to  get  home,  but  when  she  did  arrive, 


CONCLUSION.  161 

she  brought  a  big  cargo  of  teas  and  preserves,  —  worth  a  fortune  to 
her  owners. 

One  day  Dick  and  his  father  went  down  to  India  Wharf  to  in 
spect  the  ship.  She  was  in  all  the  hurry  and  turmoil  of  cleaning  and 
painting.  Decks  were  being  caulked,  masts  scraped,  and  ship-carpen 
ters,  as  thick  as  flies,  were  all  over  her  decks  and  cabins.  The  state 
rooms  where  the  two  boys  were  to  live  for  so  many  weeks  and  months 
opened  out  of  the  cabin.  Dick  had  one  to  himself,  while  Peez  was  to 
sleep  in  an  adjoining  apartment.  To  be  sure,  these  rooms  were  not  large 
enough  to  "  swing  a  cat,"  as  the  expression  is,  — still,  they  were  the 
best  the  ship  afforded,  and  *  of  course  they  were  forced  to  be  contented 
with  them.  The  odor  of  bilge-water  and  tar  pervaded  the  whole 
atmosphere,  while  the  cabin  itself,  where  their  meals  were  to  be  taken, 
seemed  to  be  no  larger  than  Dick's  mother's  pantry.  The  prospect 
was  somewhat  depressing,  but  Mr.  Reydon  laughingly  told  his  son  that 
before  he  reached  Canton  he  would  think  it  a  palace.  After  this  first 
visit  to  the  ship,  Dick  repeated  it  often,  until  he  conceived  quite  an  af 
fection  for  her,  and  looked  forward  to  his  coming  experience  with  a 
degree  of  delight.  The  day  of  their  departure  was  fast  drawing  near. 
The  ship  was  hauled  out  from  the  pier  where  she  had  lain  so  long, 
and  was  anchored  in  deeper  water  and  over  the  bar. 

The  evening  before  the  day  when  the  heir  of  Reydon  House  was  to 
leave  for  Canton  was  occupied,  as  all  such  evenings  are,  in  packing 
trunks,  bidding  good-by  to  calling  friends,  and  in  disjointed  conversa 
tion.  First,  his  mother  would,  perhaps,  ask  him  if  she  should  pack  in 
his  trunk  the  old  pair  of  shoes  which  had  lain  so  long  in  his  ward 
robe.  '  Then  somebody  would  call  him  down-stairs  to  kiss  him  farewell 
and  present  him  with  a  pincushion.  Then  some  little  boy  would  ring 
at  the  door  and  ask  Dick  to  send  him  home  some  Chinese  fire-crackers 
11 


162  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

and  dragon  kites.  And,  finally,  his  father  would  button-hole  him  and 
impress  upon  him  the  necessity  of  communicating  with  Messrs.  Kuhner 
and  Bowles,  Reydon  &  Co.'s  bankers,  the  moment  the  ship  anchored  at 
Whampoa. 

It  was  arranged  that  Dick  was  to  enter  the  house  of  Reydon  and 
Company  in  Canton  as  a  clerk.  He  was  to  be  advanced  from  time  to 
time,  as  he  showed  capacity,  until  he  reached  the  age  and  experience 
which  would  entitle  him  to  become  a  partner  of  the  house.  This 
arrangement  had  been  made  by  Mr.  Reydon  with  his  correspondents, 
and  sent  out  by  the  mail  which  preceded  the  sailing  of  the  Ann  and 
Hope.  All  things  were  thus  fully  prepared',  and  the  sun  arose  on  the 


first  of  April  of  that  year,  which  was  to  usher  in  a  day  of  marked 
importance  to  the  Reydon  household. 

The  breakfast  that  morning  was  a  frugal  one;  the  heart  of  each 
member  of  the  family  was  so  full  that  the  calls  of  hunger  were  un 
noticed.  Joshua  had  taken  the  boys'  luggage  to  the  ship  the  day  be 
fore,  so  that  nothing  remained  to  be  transported  but  the  parties  most 
interested.  Mrs.  Reydon  clasped  her  son  to  her  bosom,  and  wept  in 
silent  grief.  Putting  into  his  hand  a  small  Bible,  she  tore  herself  away 


CONCLUSION.  163 

and  fled  to  her  chamber.  Mr.  Reydon,  unable  from  his  emotion  to 
articulate  a  word,  put  on  his  over-coat  and  beckoned  to  his  son  to 
enter  the  carriage.  Poor  Peez  was  already  in  his  place,  covered  with 
shawls  and  lap-robes.  He  was  slowly  convalescing,  and  by  express 
command  of  Mr.  Reydon,  drove  down  to  the  ship  in  the  family 
carriage.  The  wharf  at  India  Point  was  reached.  Joshua,  with  the 
aid  of  sailors,  carried  Peez  in  his  arms  down  the  stairs,  and  placed 
him  in  the  little  boat  which  was  to  convey  them  to  the  ship,  and  which 
now  lay  tossing  up  and  down  on  the  uneasy  waves. 

Mr.  Reydon  silently  took  his  position  beside  the  young  men.  Two 
stalwart  tars  rowed  them  out  into  the  stream,  and  down  to  the  huge, 
black  leviathan  which  lay  riding  at  anchor  off  the  Point.  It  was  a 
matter  of  some  difficulty  for  Peez,  weak  as  he  was,  to  mount  the 
ladder  and  climb  over  the  bulwarks.  He  was  soon,  however,  stowed 
away  in  his  bunk,  while  Dick  ascended  to  the  deck  and  took  his  father 
in  his  arms  for  the  last  time  for  many  years.  As  he  watched  the  little 
boat  containing  what  he  held  so  dear  recede  farther  and  farther  from 
the  ship,  he  buried  his  face  in  his  handkerchief,  and  went  down  to 
the  cabin  overcome  with  grief. 

Many  months  elapsed  before  the  family  in  Compton  received  any 
tidings  from  Dick  Reydon.  A  welcome  letter  at  length  arrived,  giv 
ing  most  cheering  news  of  the  two  youthful  travelers.  This  epistle, 
among  other  things,  conveyed  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  no  sooner 
had  Peez  gotten  fairly  out  to  sea  than  he  began  to  gain  strength.  He 
was  on  deck  before  a  week  was  over,  and  when  he  arrived  at  Wham- 
poa,  lie  seemed  as  hale  and  hearty  as  ever. 

In  regard  to  himself,  Dick  wrote  that  he  was  perfectly  well  during 
the  entire  passage ;  that  when  he  arrived  in  Canton  he  was  hospitably 


164  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

entertained  by  Mr.  Redburn,  the  principal  of  the  house  out  there ; 
and  was  immediately  assigned  a  position  in  the  company's  office,  the 
duties  of  which  were  interesting  to  him  and  easily  performed.  He 
said  that  everybody  liked  Peez.  The  Chinese,  who  were  unused  to  the 
sight  of  a  negro,  thought  he  must  be  a  wizard  of  some  kind.  The 
company  already  made  use  of  his  services.  He  was  therefore  under 
good  pay,  with  a  chance  of  promotion.  He  attended  to  all  of  Dick's 
wants,  knew  as  much  about  Dick's  duties  as  he  did  himself,  and  was 
promised  the  situation  of  confidential  clerk  in  the  near  future.  All 
these  tidings  from  Dick  were  most  acceptable  to  the  lonely  parents  at 
home,  as  they  sat  together  in  the  little  sitting-room,  whose  walls  were 
papered  with  pictures  of  Chinese  fishermen  and  tea-merchants,  busied 
in  the  various  operations  of  their  professions. 

As  months  and  years  passed  away,  their  old  hearts  were  cheered  by 
news  of  the  regular  advancement  of  their  son,  and  at  last  of  his  ad 
mission  as  junior  partner  in  the  house  of  Reydon  and  Company. 

Old  Mr.  Reydon's  heart  was  full  when  this  intelligence  first  reached 
him,  for  now  he  was  assured  that  the  house  and  business  in  which  he 
took  so  much  pride,  and  which  had  come  down  to  him  from  his  father, 
would  be  carried  on  to  still  greater  mercantile  triumphs  under  the 
direction  of  his  clever  and  accomplished  son. 

Dick's  parents  thanked  Heaven  that  they  were  permitted  to  rear  so 
fine  a  specimen  of  manhood,  and  one  who  promised  to  grace  the  so 
ciety  in  which  he  moved. 

Joshua  and  Amanda,  too,  were  equally  exultant  as  the  good  news  of 
their  own  son  reached  them.  "  Because,"  Amanda  said,  "  she  knew 
that  whatever  helped  Massa  Richard  would  sartainly  light  on  Piazzer 
too  !  " 


CONCLUSION. 


165 


Ten  years  had  passed  away  since  the  events  last  narrated.  Affairs 
in  Compton  had  altered  a  good  deal.  Its  population  had  increased,  and 
the  boys  of  sixteen  years  old  had  become  men.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reydon 
were  also  ten  years  nearer  old  age  than  when  Dick  and  Peez  sailed  for 
Canton  in  the  Ann  and  Hope.  The  business  of  the  house  of  Reydon 
and  Company,  both  in  Canton  and  in  America,  continued  to  prosper. 


Mr.  Reydon  was  anxiously  looking  for  the  day  when  he  should  wel 
come  his  only  son  home  once  more,  as  a  man  and  his  partner  in 
business. 

One  beautiful  morning  in  early  June  when  the  leaves  and  the  birds 
were  in  their  best  array,  the  small  steamer,  which  ran  on  Compton 
River,  came  sailing  up  the  bay.  On  her  upper  deck  stood  two  stran 
gers,  who  were  scanning,  with  much  curiosity,  everything  on  the 
shores.  One  of  these  individuals  was  a  tall,  erect  young  man,  of 
seven-and-twenty.  He  was  enveloped  in  a  cloak,  and  had  a  slouched 


166  TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 

hat  on  his  head.  The  other  was  a  fine-looking  negro  of  about  the 
same  age.  The  two  men  conversed  together  in  familiar  conversation. 
As  the  little  steamer  approached  nearer  and  nearer  to  Compton,  they 
both  were  visibly  affected  by  the  sights  which  greeted  them  on  either 
shore. 

"  See  ! "  said  one  of  them,  pointing  to  some  decayed  and  leafless 
trunks.  "  There  are  the  very  trees,  Master  Kichard,  where  I  hung 
when  we  went  hawk-nesting.  It  seems  but  yesterday  when  all  this 
occurred,  and  there  are  the  spires  in  the  dear  old  town  !  " 

It  was  indeed  Dick  Reydon  and  Peez  Fitts  who  were  returning  after 
their  ten  years'  absence  from  home  and  country.  These  years  had 
sobered  both  of  them,  but  there  was  still  the  same  light  dancing  in 
their  eyes  as  of  yore,  and  the  same  amount  of  energy  lay  quietly 
within,  ready  to  manifest  itself  if  occasion  required. 

The  steamer  at  length  touched  the  wharf,  and  instantly  Dick  lay 
sobbing  like  a  child  in  the  arms  of  his  father,  while  Joshua  and 
Amanda  covered  their  own  son  with  a  thousand  kisses. 

Oh,  happiest  of  all  moments !  that  of  reaching  home  after  a  long 
absence,  to  find  the  nearest  and  the  dearest  alive  and  well ! 

Dick  Reydon's  arrival  in  Compton  was  known  to  everybody  that  day 
before  the  sun  went  down.  The  parlors  of  Reydon  House  swarmed 
with  old  friends  and  relations,  to  greet  the  wanderers.  Wine  flowed 
on  this  occasion  as  it  never  did  before,  Mr.  Reydon's  cellars  giving 
forth  their  richest  treasures  of  sherry  and  Madeira  with  lavish  hospi 
tality. 

Before  bidding  farewell  to  the  dear  friends  whom  we  have  seen  grow 
up  from  boys  to  men,  we  feel  impelled  to  say  a  few  words  concerning 


CONCLUSION.  167 

several  other  characters  who  have  appeared  from  time  to  time  in  these 
pages. 

Pete  Smart  had  graduated  from  Harvard  College  many  years  before. 
He  had  taken  a  high  position  in  his  class  ;  had  become  practicing  at 
torney  in  a  neighboring  city,  with  good  promise  of  distinction.  Eben 
Tucker  was  a  large  jobber  in  dry  goods.  He  was  married,  and  his 
children  were  already  old  enough  to  clamber  upon  his  knees  and  "  rum 
ple  up  "  his  shaggy  locks.  Of  Dick's  other  companions  at  Miss  Kam- 
lin's  school,  only  one  —  Dan  Kaf ee  —  had  died.  Many  others  were 
either  mothers  and  fathers  of  families  or  held  lucrative  positions  in 
different  parts  of  our  great  country.  Mike  Taggart,  Dick's  former 
antagonist,  had  grown  up  into  an  able-bodied  and  good-hearted  fellow. 
Dick  had  taken  pleasure  in  securing  for  him  the  position  of  porter  in 
the  great  house  of  Reydon  and  Company,  and  there  was  nothing  that 
Mike  would  n't  do  for  him  in  return  for  his  magnanimity. 

One  day,  not  long  after  their  arrival,  there  was  a  grand  dinner  at 
Reydon  House.  Dick  sat  at  his  father's  right  hand,  with  Peez  Fitts 
behind  his  chair.  Among  the  guests  were  Pete  Smart  and  Eben 
Tucker.  His  old  friend,  Miss  Lucy  Bingham,  the  prettiest  girl  in 
Compton,  was  also  one  of  the  merry  company.  They  had  a  royal 
time,  living  over  again  those  old  days  when  they  all  went  to  Miss 
Kamlin's  school,  and  indulged  in  uproarious  bursts  of  laughter,  re 
counting  the  various  exploits  of  that  never-to-be-forgotten  era,  —  es 
pecially  the  grand  trial  at  Tuxet  before  Mr.  Justice  Miller.  After  the 
cloth  was  removed,  and  before  the  ladies  left  the  table,  Pete  Smart 
arose  from  his  seat,  and,  with  a  beaming  countenance,  said  :  — 

"  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  With  Mr.  Reydon's  kind  permission,  I 
am  about  to  propose  a  toast,  in  which  I  feel  sure  all  the  glad  friends 


168 


TWO   COMPTON  BOYS. 


before  me  will  join.  It  is  a  great  privilege  to  have  been  the  life-Ion  <>• 
friend  of  the  gentleman  who  has  lately  returned  to  his  native  land, 
and  in  whose  honor  this  dinner  is  given.  During  all  these  years  I  can 
truly  say  what,  unhappily,  we  cannot  assert  of  all  our  friends  in  this 
world,  that  I  never  knew  him  to  do  a  mean,  ungenerous,  or  unmanly 

act.  As  a  boy,  he  was  ever 
courageous  and  self-sacrific 
ing  ;  and  now  that  he  has 
returned  to  his  home  as  a 
man,  I  am  certain  that  he 
will  give  farther  proof  of 
'these  great  qualities.  To 
say  that  he  is  a  Compton 
boy  is  saying  a  great  deal, 
and  we  all  justly  feel  proud 
of  him. 

"  I  find  it  impossible,  how 
ever,  to  give  this  toast,  un 
less  I  couple  with  our  hon 
ored  guest  another  Compton 
boy,  who  is  his  dear  friend, 
and,  I  am  proud  to  say,  mine  as  well.  I  refer  to  Peez  Fitts,  whose 
name  is  only  another  synonym  for  fidelity  and  trustfulness.  (Ap 
plause.)  Never  ill-tempered,  never  cowardly,  and  always  to  be  de 
pended  upon,  we  cannot  forget  him.  (Here  Peez,  who  was  still 
standing  behind  Dick's  chair,  bent  his  head  with  emotion.) 

"  Therefore,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  express  all  I  desire  to  say  when 
I  give  you  as  my  toast,  '  Our  Two  Compton  Boys ;  may  they  reap  the 
reward  of  their  virtues.'  " 


CONCLUSION. 


169 


(Shouts,  clapping  of  hands,  and  clinking  of  glasses.) 

And  here  we  take  leave  of  both  our  heroes.  Time  has  already 
whitened  their  locks,  and  laid  his  heavy  hand  upon  their  stalwart 
forms ;  but  the  hearts  of  both  beat  as  fresh  and  as  young  as  ever,  and 
both  are  as  free  from  everything  mean  and  sordid  as  they  were  at 
that  merry  period  when  Dick  went  to  Miss  Kamlin's  school,  and  Peez 
waited  outside  for  his  little  master. 

The  house  of  Reydon  and  Company  continues  its  prosperous  career. 
Already  another  generation  of  Dicks  have  entered  the  partnership,  and 
a  fresh  crop  of  Feezes  stand  at  their  elbows  ready  to  do  their  bidding. 

And  so  it  ever  happens  that  fortune,  influence,  and  lasting  success 
wait  upon  a  truthful  and  courageous  life. 


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Mr.  Warner  is  a  master,  and  is  equally  delightful  to  boys  of 
all  ages  from  six  to  say  sixty  or  seventy  years.  It  is  full  of 
clever  pictures,  loo,  by  "  Champ,"  who  has  so  fully  entered 
into  the  authors  spirit  that  the  text  and  the  illustrations 
seem  to  be  necessary  parts  of  the  single  whole.  —  New 
York  Evening  Post. 

No  boy  can  help  being  better  for  reading  this  fine  and  hu 
mane  book,  which  must  become  dear  to  its  readers,  young 
or  old,  as  a  friend  becomes  dear.  — Atlantic  Monthly. 


MRS.  A.  D.  T.  WHITNEY. 

Faith    Gartney's    Girlhood.       Illus 
trated.    $1.50. 

The     Gayworthys.       A     Story     of 

Threads  and  Thrums.     $1.50. 
Patience  Strong's  Outings.      $1.50. 
Hitherto.      A  Story  of  Yesterdays. 

A  Summer  in  Leslie  Goldthwaite's 
Life.     Illustrated.    $1.50. 

We  Girls.     A  Home  Story.     Illus 
trated.    $1.50. 

Real  Folks.     Illustrated.     $1.50. 
The  Other  Girls.    Illustrated.    $1.50. 
Boys  at  Chequasset.     $1.50. 
Sights  and  Insights.    2  vols     $3.00. 
Odd,  or  Even?     $1.50. 

Mrs.  Whitney  always  writes  with  a  purpose,  and  her 
works  go  right  down  to  the  innermost  soul  cf  all  earnest 
readers;  and  they  can?t  help  feeling  strengthened  and  in 
vigorated,  and  their  souls  called  to  duty  as  by  the  sound  of 
a  trumpet.  There  is  a  breezy,  hearty  way  with  her,  that 
suggests  the  capable,  clear-sighted,  energetic  woman ;  and 
her  stories  are  of  the  highest  and  best  order  of  fiction.  — 
Louisville  Courier-Journal. 

Such  books  as  hers  should  be  in  every  household,  to  be 
read,  loaned,  reread  and  reloaned,  so  long  as  the  leaves  and 
covers  will  hold  together,  —  not  holiday  volumes  for  elegant 
quiet,  but  stirring  and  aggressive  works,  with  a  "  mission," 
which  is  to  make  the  world  better  than  they  find  it.  —  Bos 
ton  Commonwealth. 

Mrs  Whitney  has  succeeded  in  domesticating  herself  in 
a  great  number  of  American  homes.  The  purity,  sweetness, 
shrewdness,  tenderness,  humor,  the  elevated  but  still  homely 
Christian  faith,  which  find  expression  in  her  writings,  en 
dear  her  to  thousands.  —  E.  P.  WHIPPLK. 


J.  G.  WHITTIER. 
Child  Life.     A  Collection  of  Poems, 

selected  and  edited,  with  an  introduction,  by 
J.  G,  Whittier.     Illustrated.     Full  gilt,  $2.25. 

Child-Life  in  Prose.     Selected  by  J. 

G.  Whittier.     Illustrated.     Full  gilt,  $2  25. 

These  two  books  would  constitute  a  library  for  any  family 
of  children,  the  value  of  which  they  would  never  cease  to 
acknowledge.  Parents  who  are  forming  little  libraries  for 
their  households  will  do  well  to  begin  with  these,  even  if 
their  means  forbid  buying  any  others  at  present.  —  Boston 
A  dvertiser. 


For  sale  by  all  Booksellers.      Sent  by  mail,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  price  by  the  Publishers, 

HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  &  CO.,  BOSTON,  MASS. 


THE  BODLEY  BOOKS. 


THIS  series  of  books  consists  of  five  volumes,  each  independent  of  the  others,  but  since  the 
characters  are  the  same  in  all  there  is  a  natural  connection  between  them,  and  the  order  of 
their  appearance  indicates  also  the  gradual  growth  of  the  children  who  make  up  the  younger 
members  of  the  Bodley  Family.  The  series  is  as  follows  :  — 

I.    DOINGS   OF   THE   BODLEY  FAMILY  IN   TOWN  AND   COUNTRY. 

This  contains  some  of  the  doings  of  Nathiin,  Philippa,  and  Lucy  Bodley,  their  father  and 
mother,  the  hired  man  Martin,  and  Nathan's  Cousin  Ned,  upon  their  removal  from  Boston 
to  Roxbury.  It  introduces,  also,  Nathan's  pig,  the  dog  Neptune,  Lucy's  kitten,  Lucy's  doll, 
Mr.  Bottom  the  horse,  chickens,  mice;  it,  has  stories  told  to  the  children  by  their  parents, 
by  Martin,  and  by  each  other.  Martin's  brother  Hen  is  referred  to  occasionally. 

II.  THE  BODLEY S  TELLING  STORIES. 

In  this  book  Nathan's  cousin,  Ned  Adams,  a  young  oolk'giau,  is  shown  as  much  of  the 
time  living  with  his  cousins,  and  Nurse  Young  becomes  a  part  of  the  family.  The  children 
are  entertained  with  a  good  many  stories,  especially  from  American  history;  they  have  a 
Mother  Goose  party,  and  go  on  a  journey  to  Cape  Cod.  Hen  remains  in  the  background. 

III.    THE   BODLEY 'S   ON   WHEELS. 

The  family  enter  a  carryall  and  drive,  accompanied  by  Ned  on  horseback,  along  the  coast 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  from  Boston  to  Gloucester,  and  thence,  through  Ipswich  and  Rowley, 
to  Newburyport,  and  so  home  again.  Their  drive  leads  them  through  historic  places  and  by 
spots  made  famous  in  poetry  and  legend.  On  their  arrival  home  they  find  Martin's  brother 
Hen  in  the  barn,  just  back  from  a  long  voyage. 

IV.     THE   BODLEY  S  AFOOT. 

Hen  entertains  the  children  with  yarns,  and,  Ned  Adams  suddenly  appearing,  it  is  pro 
posed  that  he  and  Nathan  should  take  a  walk  to  New  York.  They  set  out  by  Dedham  and 
the  old  road  to  Hartford,  through  Pomfret  ;  but  at  Hartford,  where  they  stay  a  few  days 
with  some  old  relatives,  they  are  joined  by  Mrs.  Bodley,  Phippy,  and  Lucy,  who  go  down 
the  Connecticut  River  with  them  to  Saybrook,  and  then  go  back  to  Boston,  leaving  the  boys 
to  continue  their  walk  to  New  York.  They  are  stopped,  however,  at  New  Haven,  by  a  dis 
patch  from  Mr.  Bodley,  which  brings  them  back  at  once  by  rail. 

V.    MR.  BODLEY  ABROAD. 

The  reason  of  the  dispatch  is  that  Mr.  Bodley  is  unexpectedly  called  to  Europe,  and  in 
this  final  volume  of  the  series  he  goes  abroad,  while  the  rest  of  the  family  at  first  go  for  a 
fortnight  to  Cape  Cod,  and  then  return  to  Roxbury.  Mr.  Bodley  does  not  return  till  Thanks 
giving  time,  but  he  writes  letters  home,  and,  after  he  returns,  tells  stories  of  Europe.  The 
children,  besides,  have  their  own  journeys  and  adventures,  so  that  Europe  and  America  ap- 


pear  in  equal  proportions.  Mrs.  Bodley,  who  stays  at  home,  has  been  to  Europe  before,  so 
that  she  is  able  to  enlarge  on  what  Mr.  Bodley  writes  home,  and  Hen,  who  has  gone  off  on  a 
voyage,  stumbles  upon  Mr.  Bodley  abroad,  and  comes  back  before  him  with  fresh  yarns. 

The  time  of  the  five  stories  is  about  1848-1852. 


A  NEW  BODLEY  SEEIES. 

\ 

It  was  intimated  at  the  close  of  Mr.  Bodley  Abroad  that  the  children  might  themselves  go 
to  Europe  when  they  had  grown  up.  It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  to  find  that  thirty  years 
after  the  days  when  they  were  Bodley  children  they  had  children  of  their  own,  and  thus  a 
new  series  of  adventures  and  stories  have  begun.  Nathan  and  Phippy  Bodley,  having  married 
&  sister  and  brother,  are  now  the  heads  of  families  themselves,  and  a  new  career  opens  in 

J.     THE   BODLEY  GRANDCHILDREN 

AND  THEIR  JOURNEY  IN  HOLLAND, 

the  first  volume  of  the  second  series.  In  this  volume  the  two  families,  with  the  grand 
children,  start  from  New  York,  after  first  making  themselves  acquainted  with  the  doings  of 
their  Dutch  ancestors  there  in  the  days  of  New  Amsterdam,  and  spend  several  weeks  in 
Holland,  seeing  sights,  taking  an  object  lesson  in  history,  and  especially  making  the  connection 
between  American  history  and  Dutch  history.  They  are  Americans  visiting  Europe  not 
merely  for  the  pleasure  of  travel,  but  for  the  purpose  of  tracing  back  the  footprints  of  their 
ancestors. 

II.     THE  ENGLISH  BODLEY  FAMILY. 

After  a  summer  spent  in  Holland,  the  grandchildren  and  their  parents  go  to  England  with 
their  appetite  whetted  for  new  feasts  in  historic  fields.  By  a  singular  chance  they  fall  in  with 
an  English  family  bearing  the  name  of  Bodley.  Their  long-lost  ancestors  have  been  found, 
and  the  descendants  of  these  ancestors,  though  very  distant  cousins,  prove  to  be  hospitable 
and  friendly.  The  autumn  is  spent  in  historic  pilgrimages,  and  the  connection  between 
English  and  American  life,  as  discovered  by  youngsters  of  both  nations,  gives  an  interna 
tional  character  to  the  story. 

The  time  is  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1881. 

m.     THE    VIKING  BODLEYS. 

The  family  party,  with  the  exception  of  their  Cousin  Ned,  after  a  winter  spent  in  Italy, 
return  to  England  and  cross  the  North  Sea  to  Christiania.  They  go  as  far  north  in  Norway 
as  anybody  can  go,  and  then  return  after  having  done  their  best  to  discover  their  Viking  an 
cestors  among  the  fjords  of  Norway.  From  Christiania  they  go  to  Copenhagen,  visit  the 
haunts  of  Andersen  and  enjoy  Denmark.  They  have  now,  after  seeing  Scandinavia,  got  at 
the  earliest  European  life  which  was  connected  with  America,  and  they  return  home,  never 
a^ain  to  set  forth  on  their  rambling  journeys.  This  is  the  last  of  the  Bodleys. 


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